A kestrel is a small falcon, about the size of a mourning dove, known for its remarkable hunting technique. While many birds of prey soar and swoop, kestrels do something unusual: they hover in midair, hanging almost motionless against the wind like a helicopter, scanning the ground below for mice, grasshoppers, and other small prey. Their wings beat rapidly to keep them suspended in one spot, sometimes for minutes at a time.

You might spot a kestrel perched on a telephone wire along a highway or hovering over an open field. In North America, the American kestrel is the smallest and one of the most colorful falcons, with rusty-red and blue-gray feathers. Males have striking slate-blue wings, while both males and females sport bold facial markings that look almost like face paint.

Kestrels hunt during the day and have incredibly sharp eyesight. They can see ultraviolet light, which helps them track mice and voles by following the UV-reflective trails these rodents leave in their urine. Once a kestrel spots its prey, it drops from its hover in a swift dive. Despite their small size, kestrels are fierce, effective hunters.