The smallest member of the falcon family, this handsome little American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) can be found throughout North America and much of South America (Arkive.org).Only about 9-12″ in length, the elegant but fierce little bird of prey feeds mostly on insects, small rodents and amphibians, and small birds. Yet, due to its petite size, the American Kestrel itself sometimes falls prey to other larger birds, including hawks, crows, and owls (All About Birds).The Kestrel is one of the birds mentioned explicitly in the Torah as being non-kosher, beginning with these verses in Vayikra/Leviticus 11:13-14: ‘And among birds, you shall hold these in abomination; they shall not be eaten; they are an abomination: The eagle [or the griffin vulture], the kite, the osprey, the kestrel, and the vulture after its species . . .’ (Chabad.org). All non-kosher birds are predatory birds.
Speaking of Kestrels, you may recall hearing the story of a Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) that was captured in 2013 in a Turkish village and accused of being an Israeli spy! The bird had been tagged in Israel as part of a research project on migration, and the villagers, unfamiliar with the practice of banding birds, were suspicious about the metallic ring on its foot. Fortunately, as seen in this photo (Daily News, 7.26.13), the ‘kestrel captured in Turkey on suspicion of being an Israeli spy has been released after officials concluded it was not actually in the employ of Mossad.’ (IndependentNews.co.uk 7.26.13). The story made global headlines and one clever writer dubbed the Kestrel ‘The Bird Who Knew Too Little’ (International Business Times 7.27.13)!
This attractive little bird has quite the reputation – very interesting article.
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Thank you, Belinda. Yes, he certainly does!
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These petite little birds are so adorable-looking, but knowing they’re birds of prey, I bet they are fierce. LOVE that first capture, and thanks for sharing their ‘I-spy’ story!
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I love finding a kestrel, and this little male was really a beauty. The photos were taken a few days apart, the first quite overcast and the next day very sunny.
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My first kestrel was on my way to work in Delaware few years ago. I photographed one here in Florida, but really not worthy to share. We get those kinds of photos, lol. 🙂
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We have the Nankeen Kestrel which is very similar and a beautiful bird in flight. It is our smallest raptor also. and hovers over its prey.
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We are lucky that this little American Kestrel seems to favor one particular location, so we’ve been fortunate to see him a lot lately.
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