These pint-sized residents of our Sonoran Desert have a body length of around 10 inches and weigh in at about 5 ounces which makes them North America’s smallest falcon. But don’t let their diminutive size fool you. They are accomplished hunters and are able to snatch their prey with surprising skill.

Although common throughout most of Arizona (and much of North and South America), Kestrels can be hard to spot particularly because their desert-camouflaged colors and feather patterns tend to conceal them in their surroundings. Their diet includes insects, butterflies, crickets, lizards, mice and even small birds.

Kestrels are elegant, highly adaptable birds and with some patience you can find them nearly anywhere around Maricopa County.

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