![]() ![]() Kestrel flight is rather weak and buoyant, unlike the fast and direct flight of the peregrine, and kestrels often hover several meters above the ground before diving to the ground to catch a mouse. Male kestrels have bluish-gray upper wings while females have reddish-brown streaking on the wings. The American kestrel ( Falco sparverius), while similar in shape and overall appearance, is much smaller (23 cm in length) and is much lighter in color than the peregrine with a reddish-brown back with dark horizontal barring, white to buff breast with brown to gray markings or streaking, a white vent area, gray to blue-gray cap, and whitish face with two black vertical stripes. ![]() Its "mustache" stripe is much fainter than that of the peregrine and can be absent in some birds. 40 cm in length), and tends to be darker in overall color. The Merlin ( Falco columbarius) can be very similar in appearance to the peregrine, but is substantially smaller (25 cm vs. Immature birds are browner and heavily marked with vertical streaking on the breast. Females are noticeably larger than males. The cap and nape are black, and a black mustache extends below the eye forming a distinctive dark helmet. Adult birds are slate gray on the back and have a light breast and abdomen with dark horizontal markings. The tail is long and narrow with alternating light and dark lateral banding. This raptor is 38-53 cm (15-21 in) in length with long pointed wings and a wingspan of up to 112 cm (44 in). ![]()
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