American Kestrel

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.

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.

The following photographs are the best representative images from different dates and locations than my species representative example.

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.