Apprentice Birds Flashcards
The falcon in which sexual dimorphism is found in both plumage coloration and pattern is the…
American Kestrel.
*In the adult plumage, both the American Kestrel and the Merlin demonstrate conspicuous coloration differences based on gender. However, immature Merlins of either sex look the same.
What bird lacks distinctive “immature” plumage during their first year?
American Kestrel.
*American Kestrels differ from other falcons in that their first year plumage is very similar to their mature plumage. They differ also in the manner of the first molt. The body plumage, but not the large wing and tail feathers, are molted and replaced in the late summer. This means the first body plumage is scarcely fully grown before it begins to molt.
True or False:
The American Kestrel is closely related to the Eurasian Sparrowhawk.
False
*The Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) is a small Accipiter or short-winged hawk and is very similar to the Sharp-shinned Hawk (A. striatus). The American Kestrel (which was formerly called the American Sparrowhawk) is the smallest North American falcon.
Tail pumping, head bobbing, and hovering are the classic field identification characteristics of…
an American Kestrel.
A very small raptor hovering 20 feet above an open field is most likely a…
American Kestrel.
*There is nothing shy about a Kestrel. It lives, hunts, nests and perches right out in the open for all to see. The most typical hunting method of the species is that of hovering. Even when hunting from atop a pole, it may not make a direct flight to the quarry.
Instead it may fly out over the spot where it has seen something move, then hover over it before dropping down.
Although in the summer this raptor employs a hunting style adapted to catching grasshoppers and mice, wintering individuals often show a more typical falcon style when capturing small birds.
American Kestrel
The species that is most sensitive to weight fluctuations is the…
American Kestrel.
*Due to its small size and fast metabolism, an American Kestrel’s weight should be monitored regularly, particularly in cold weather.
True or False:
It is a good idea to have an American Kestrel wedded to the lure prior to flying it free?
True
*Having an American Kestrel wed to a lure is good for conditioning and recovery.
When caring for an American Kestrel, the falconer must be particularly attentive to…
(3 Points)
- weight management
- other avian predators
- injuries due to bating
*Due to the American Kestrel’s small size and delicate nature, special attention must be paid to its weight management and to injury prevention. They are also vulnerable to other avian predators.
A trait of the American Kestrel in the wild that carries over and becomes a vice when it is trained in falconry is…
Carrying.
*Kestrels have a tendency to carry, which serves them well in the wild but makes for poor falconry. This tendency can be overcome with consistent training. Turning an American Kestrel into a great game hawk has its challenges, but many falconers have been successful in taking small game, including birds, with Kestrels.
Traditional falconry equipment items not routinely used with American Kestrels include…
(3 Points)
- bells
- hood
- traditional Jesses
*Few falconers take the time or trouble to bell or hood a Kestrel. These birds become so tame that there is little advantage to a hood and they are extremely difficult to fit. Bells are unnecessary because they would have to be so light in weight that they would be of limited utility. Flying the bird with traditional jesses are illegal.
True or False:
In the wild, a Red-tailed Hawk will take neither game birds nor passerines.
False.
*In periods when the Red-tailed Hawk’s normal food supply of rabbits and rodents becomes scarce, it becomes a surprisingly competent bird hawk, greatly feared by larger waterfowl and all upland game birds. Additionally, at such times, Red-tailed Hawks may
successfully attack other kinds of birds including crows, ravens, gulls, owls and other Buteos. In the western desert, Red-tailed Hawks live as much on rattlesnakes and other reptiles as they do rodents.
The sex of Red-tailed Hawks can be predicted in most cases by…
(2 Points)
weight and size.
*The North American bird manual no longer accepts the determination of sex of Redtailed Hawks made by banders because of the large overlap in the criterion used to distinguish the sexes. Falconers, however, continue to make good educated guesses.
The most reliable criterion is weight. The males follow well the concept of the term “tiercel” by truly being about 1/3 smaller than the females on average, but the size range within each sex is quite large: 26 to 44 ounces for males, 36 to 70 ounces for females, represent extremes. Males on average weigh 34 ounces, and females 49 ounces.
True or False:
There is no sexual dimorphism in the Red-tailed Hawk.
False.
*In addition to being much larger and heavier, the females generally, through not always, have larger, more powerful thighs and feet, broader and larger heads, wide wings and a blockier overall build. As to behavior, the males are somewhat more spirited but also more temperamental. The females more readily “crash” into heavy cover in pursuit of quarry but they lack the quickness and aerial dexterity of the males.
True or False:
Red-tailed Hawks only nest in trees.
False.
*In the western states, Red-tailed Hawks occasionally choose cliffs as their nest sites and in Arizona they sometimes nest in the tall saguaro cacti. Some also nest on the ledges of tall buildings in major urban areas, such as New York City.
