American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) is in the Falcons and Caracaras family (Falconidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 81,609 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in January.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph American Kestrel: observations by month (U.S.)
About American Kestrel
The American kestrel (Falco sparverius), is the smallest and most common falcon in North America. Formerly called "sparrowhawk", a misnomer as it is a true falcon and is unrelated genetically to the Eurasian sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus. It has a roughly two-to-one range in size over subspecies and sex, varying in size from about the weight of a blue jay to a mourning dove. It also ranges to South America and is a well-established species that hasFrom Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
American Kestrel by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 24,916 | January | Aug–Mar |
| Texas | 13,691 | January | Oct–Mar |
| Florida | 5,451 | December | Oct–Mar |
| Oregon | 3,507 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Arizona | 3,072 | January | Aug–May |
| New York | 3,006 | October | Sep–Aug |
| Colorado | 2,855 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Utah | 1,988 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Illinois | 1,882 | March | Jul–May |
| Washington | 1,729 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Idaho | 1,497 | January | Dec–Nov |
| New Mexico | 1,366 | December | Nov–Oct |
| Ohio | 1,231 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 1,203 | April | Dec–Oct |
| Maryland | 1,034 | October | Sep–Apr |
| Tennessee | 912 | January | Sep–Mar |
| Virginia | 849 | January | Sep–Apr |
| Nevada | 809 | January | Dec–Nov |
| Massachusetts | 730 | April | Apr–May |
| Vermont | 611 | April | Apr–May |
| New Jersey | 592 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Minnesota | 577 | April | Apr–May |
| Wisconsin | 574 | April | Feb–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 569 | December | Sep–Apr |
| Louisiana | 543 | December | Oct–Mar |
| Michigan | 537 | April | Nov–Apr |
| North Carolina | 495 | January | Sep–Mar |
| Alabama | 464 | November | Sep–Mar |
| Georgia | 399 | December | Oct–Mar |
| Missouri | 396 | December | Aug–Apr |
| Montana | 393 | August | Apr–Sep |
| Mississippi | 368 | January | Oct–Mar |
| Wyoming | 329 | August | Apr–Sep |
| Kansas | 325 | March | Sep–Jun |
| Arkansas | 280 | December | Sep–Mar |
| South Dakota | 256 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Kentucky | 251 | December | Nov–Oct |
| Indiana | 241 | December | Nov–Oct |
| Delaware | 237 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Nebraska | 212 | April | Mar–Sep |
| South Carolina | 207 | February | Sep–Mar |
| Connecticut | 198 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Iowa | 192 | March | Jun–Apr |
| Maine | 185 | April | Apr–Apr |
| West Virginia | 143 | January | Sep–Apr |
| North Dakota | 107 | April | Apr–May |
| New Hampshire | 96 | September | Sep–Sep |
| District of Columbia | 49 | October | Jul–Dec |
| Alaska | 34 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Rhode Island | 21 | April | Apr–Apr |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Falcons and Caracaras)
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph American Kestrel?
Nationally, January has the most observations, with the main season from August to April.
Where is American Kestrel most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Florida.