American Kestrel

American Kestrel, Vista West Fort Worth, TX, January 25, 2026
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO 1250; f/11; 1/800 sec.

This page is for the American Kestrel (Falco sparverius). I grew up calling this bird a sparrow hawk, which is a common name for it due to the bird’s small size. My first photographic evidence occurred on December 26, 2021 at North Holiday Park, Benbrook, TX. My wife and I were exploring this park for the first time and saw it soaring over a field looking for prey. The best photograph I have taken of the American Kestrel to date (above) was from January 17, 2022 at the Village Creek Drying Beds, Arlington, TX.

American Kestrel perched in a tree. There is a shadow of a nearby branch across the hawk's face and right side.
American Kestrel, Village Creek, Arlington, TX, January 17, 2022
Canon EOS 5DS R with Tamron 150-600 mm lens; 600 mm; ISO-640; f/7.1; 1/3200 sec.
American Kestral soaring looking for prey.
American Kestrel; North Holiday Park, Benbrook, TX; December 26, 2021
Canon EOS 5DS R with Tamron 150-600 mm lens; 600 mm; ISO-250; f/7.1; 1/1600 sec.
American Kestrel soaring in the sky.
American Kestrel, Village Creek, Arlington, TX, January 22, 2022
Canon EOS 5DS R with Tamron 150-600 mm lens; 600 mm; ISO-500; f/7.1; 1/2500 sec.
American Kestrel perched on the top of a dead tree.
American Kestrel Cedar Hill State Park, Cedar Hill, TX, March 6, 2022
Canon EOS 5DS R with Tamron 150-600 mm lens; 600 mm; ISO-5000; f/7.1; 1/1250 sec.
American Kestrel perched on an overhead wire.
American Kestrel, Black Mesa State Park, Kenton, Ok, October 21, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-200; f/11; 1/800 sec.
American Kestrel perched on a limb of a dead tree looking to its right.
American Kestrel, Bosque del Apache NWR, San Antonio, NM, November 10, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-8000; f/11; 1/1000 sec.
American Kestrel perched on the top of a dead tree.
American Kestrel, North Holiday Park, Benbrook, TX, January 2, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-200; f/11; 1/500 sec.
American Kestrel perched on a wire.
American Kestrel, North Holiday Park, Benbrook, TX, January 2, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-200; f/10; 1/500 sec.
American Kestrel perched on a high-tension wire and looking over its left shoulder.
American Kestrel, North Holiday Park, Benbrook, TX, February 11, 2023
EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-250; f/11; 1/800 sec.
American Kestrel perched on an overhead wire.
American Kestrel, North Holiday Park, Benbrook, TX, March 10, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-125; f/10; 1/400 sec.
American Kestrel perched at the top of a tree.
American Kestrel, Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, Port Aransas, TX, February 22, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 700 mm; ISO-200; f/10; 1/1000 sec.
American Kestral perched near the top of a dead tree.
American Kestrel, King Ranch, Kingsville, TX, February 23, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 700 mm; ISO-800; f/11; 1/1000 sec.
American Kestrel perched at the tip of a tree.
American Kestrel, Fennessey Ranch, Refugio, TX, February 25, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-640; f/11; 1/1600 sec.
American Kestrel soaring nearby.
American Kestrel, Fennessey Ranch, Refugio, TX, February 25, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-500; f/10; 1/1600 sec.
American Kestrel perched on a small bush facing away from the camera and looking over its left shoulder.
American Kestrel, Antisana, Ecuador, June 21, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-3200; f/10; 1/1000 sec.
American Kestrel flying low to the ground.
American Kestrel, Antisana, Ecuador, June 21, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-3200; f/10; 1/1000 sec.
American Kestrel perched on a small bush.
American Kestrel, Antisana, Ecuador, June 21, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-3200; f/10; 1/1000 sec.
American Kestrel perched on a fence post in the light rain.
American Kestrel, Tambo Condor Bird Lodge, Antisana, Ecuador, June 21, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-4000; f/11; 1/1000 sec.
American Kestrel perched on a wire.
American Kestrel, Crowley, TX, February 2, 2025
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-250; f/11; 1/800 sec.
American Kestrel flying nearby.
American Kestrel, Cement Creek Reservoir, Fort Worth TX, March 1, 2025
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-100; f/10; 1/320 sec.
American Kestrel perched on the tip of a tree.
American Kestrel, Lake Manawa SP Council Bluffs, IA March 12, 2025
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-400; f/10; 1/1600 sec.
American Kestrel perched on a wire.
American Kestrel, Kearney, NE March 14, 2025
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-400; f/10; 1/1600 sec.
American Kestrel perched on a metal pole.
American Kestrel, Mustang Park, Benbrook, TX November 8, 2025
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO 2000; f/10; 1/1000 sec.
American Kestrel perched in a tree.
American Kestrel, North Holiday Park, Benbrook, TX November 8, 2025
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO 400; f/10; 1/1250 sec.
American Kestrel perched on a small branch near the top of a small tree.
American Kestrel, Mustang Park, Benbrook, TX, December 27, 2025
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO 320; f/11; 1/1000 sec.
American Kestrel perched on a small branch.
American Kestrel, North Holiday Park, Benbrook, TX, December 27, 2025
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO 250; f/11; 1/800 sec.
American Kestrel perched on a wire.
American Kestrel, Old Granbury Road, Benbrook, TX, December 27, 2025
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO 400; f/11; 1/1000 sec.
American Kestrel on the snowy ground feeding on what appears to be a Dark-eyed Junco.
American Kestrel, Vista West Fort Worth, TX, January 25, 2026
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO 640; f/11; 1/800 sec.
American Kestrel perched in a tree.
American Kestrel, Hipódromo Calacalí, Quito, Ecuador, June 28, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO 1250; f/10; 1/640 sec.