American Kestrel

Seen one? Add it to your free UK BirdedexHear its song and see the mapFree, no app download. Legendary bird: +50 points when you log it.

Habitat and behaviour

Habitat: Open country (extreme vagrant).
Diet: Insects, small mammals.
Best time to spot: Tiny, colourful falcon.

When to look

A rare visitor, not a resident. There is no dependable season, though most rarities are found during spring and autumn migration. More on the season in UK raptors and owls.

How rare is it?

The American Kestrel sits in our Legendary tier for the UK: a major rarity, where any record is big news. It is not on the Red or Amber lists in Birds of Conservation Concern 5.

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Amur FalconLegendary · Open country (extreme vagrant)
• Sooty FalconLegendary · Open country (extreme vagrant)
• Lanner FalconLegendary · Open country (very rare)
• Red-footed FalconRare · Open country (rare passage)
• Lesser KestrelEpic · Open farmland
• Saker FalconLegendary · Plains (very rare)

Kit that helps

Best binoculars for UK birding. Affiliate links, our own picks, no extra cost to you.