Birds of North America
Puzzle 76 · Wings Above the Landscape · Page 106 in print
American Kestrel
American Kestrels cannot dig their own nesting holes. They use existing cavities, and the female makes the final choice after the male finds possible sites.
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The words
Black Barring
Dark bars on the female’s wings and back.
Building Nooks
Small recesses in structures can provide nest sites.
Butterflies
Flying insects among the kestrel’s prey.
Cavity Floor
The female may form a shallow depression in loose floor material.
Face Slashes
The two dark markings on the face.
Gray Crown
The gray top of the female’s head.
Klee
A written rendering of the male’s display call.
Longleaf Pine
The southeastern form breeds in sandhills with these trees.
Mustache
A name for one of the dark facial stripes.
Parkland
A human-modified habitat used by kestrels.
Pouncing
Dropping on prey and seizing it with the feet.
Sideburn
A name for the other facial stripe.
Slate-blue
The adult male’s wing color.
Tail Pumping
A movement often made after landing.
Tree Hollows
Natural cavities used for nesting.
Sources
- American Kestrel: IdentificationCornell Lab of Ornithology
- American Kestrel: Life HistoryCornell Lab of Ornithology