American Kestrel (Sparrow Hawk)

A small contour feather from North America's smallest falcon. The American Kestrel is a colorful raptor about the size of a Mourning Dove, featuring rufous backs and tails. Males exhibit the blue-grey wing coverts that match the base of this feather.

Bicolor pattern; Slate-blue or charcoal grey at the proximal half transitioning to a warm rufous or cinnamon-orange at the distal half.

Plumulaceous (downy) at the base for insulation with a more pennaceous (interlocked) structure at the distal tip for protection.

Very soft and silky texture; the distal part has a slight matte finish while the base is extremely fluffy.

Distinctive warm rufous-orange tip paired with a dark slate-grey base; small size and soft texture.

Open country including grasslands, meadows, parklands, deserts, and suburban areas with perching wires.

Year-round resident across most of North America; northern populations migrate to the southern US and Central America.

Primary consumer of insects and small rodents; serves as an important mid-tier predator in open ecosystems.

Mourning Dove (lacks the blue base), Eastern Bluebird (smaller, different orange shade), or Northern Flicker (different shaft structure).

American Kestrels can see ultraviolet light, which allows them to track the urine trails of voles and other rodents in the grass.

Good; showing typical wear for a naturally molted feather; no obvious fault bars or parasite damage visible.