American Kestrel, Falco Sparverius

Day 104: The American Kestrel ("Sparrow Hawk") is the smallest accipiter you'll find in the Pacific Northwest, and easily recognizable by the colorful facial markings and rufous back. Males have blue-grey wings. The species subsists on a diet of insects, small mammals (mice and shrews) and smaller birds, and is most often found where grassland is abundant.

This young lady had Ohop Valley staked out and was patrolling from telephone pole to telephone pole, keeping her sharp eyes peeled for unsuspecting mice. With Ohop Creek running at capacity, many of the little rodents who make their homes in the streambank have taken to the fields. I suspect Ms. Falco went home with a full tummy at sunset.