The American Kestrel is a small but energetic falcon commonly found in North America4, central Mexico, and the Caribbean. They can live in open grasslands, harsh deserts, and urban areas.
It is the smallest falcon species, weighing around 8 to 12 inches and weighing approximately 2.8 to 5.8 ounces. At first sight, its vibrant plumage featuring warm-toned shades of rust, gray, and white, paired with a distinct black slash near its eyes, is striking. Its slender, sharp beak is a dark yellow, often tipped with black.
The American Kestrel's diverse diet includes insects, mammals, and birds. Its unique hunting technique involves mid-air hovering and a speedy and precise dive.
Username: Lotfor Published on 2024-12-13 03:59:00 ID NUMBER: 126821
The American Kestrel is a small but energetic falcon commonly found in North America4, central Mexico, and the Caribbean. They can live in open grasslands, harsh deserts, and urban areas.
It is the smallest falcon species, weighing around 8 to 12 inches and weighing approximately 2.8 to 5.8 ounces. At first sight, its vibrant plumage featuring warm-toned shades of rust, gray, and white, paired with a distinct black slash near its eyes, is striking. Its slender, sharp beak is a dark yellow, often tipped with black.
The American Kestrel's diverse diet includes insects, mammals, and birds. Its unique hunting technique involves mid-air hovering and a speedy and precise dive.
The Common Kestrel, also known as the European Kestrel, Eurasian Kestrel, or Old World Kestrel, is a bird of prey found in various habitats across the globe.
Hues of chestnut-brown distinguish them and have intricate black markings contrasted by a lighter, almost cream-colored, underbelly. Its beak is a muted grey, shaped sharply for skillful hunting. A small-to-medium bird of prey typically measures between 13 to 17 inches in length and weighs approximately 5 to 10 ounces.
The Mauritius Kestrel is a compact bird of prey, standing around 8 to 10 inches tall with a weight range of 4 to 6 ounces. This falcon displays a warm chestnut-brown color across much of its body, while its tail and wing feathers boast black stripes. Its powerful beak is an eye-catching yellow, contrasting starkly against its brown head.
They were once the world's rarest bird, with only four individuals in the wild in 1974. However, dedicated conservation efforts have helped the bird recover, and its population has increased to around 170-200 birds today.
Despite its successful rebound, the Mauritius Kestrel is still listed as an endangered species due to its small population size and limited habitat range, which make it vulnerable to habitat destruction and predators.
The Lesser Kestrel inhabits open grasslands, farmlands, and steppe landscapes. They breed from April to August in Europe and Central Asia and migrate to Africa for the winter.
The Lesser Kestrel is a small bird of prey, typically weighing between 4 to 6 ounces and spanning a length of 10 to 12 inches. Its plumage is slate-gray on the male's head and tail but more earthy brown for females. Their undersides display a dappled pattern of cream and brown, while their sharp beak is a notable yellow with a hook at the end for tearing prey.
Their diet consists mainly of grasshoppers, beetles, and other small invertebrates, and they may occasionally eat a small rodent or bird.
The Eurasian Hobby lives in Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is known for its agility and precision while hunting dragonflies, butterflies, and other insects in mid-air.
Likewise, it is a relatively small raptor, with a body length typically between 12-14 inches and around 0.5 pounds. It carries an aesthetically pleasing mix of colors on its feathers: its back and wings are bluish-gray. At the same time, the underparts have a reddish tint. Its beak is dark, sharply hooked, and well-suited for carnivorous preferences.
It builds its nest by repurposing the abandoned nests of other birds. Moreover, it hunts silently by surprising its prey as it flies low over water bodies or vegetation.
The Australian Hobby is found in Australia and New Guinea and is known for its agility and swiftness.
This type of falcon is an elegant raptor, smaller in stature, typically measuring 12 to 14 inches long, and weighing approximately half a pound. A slender body profile is dressed in charcoal grey and soft white plumage. Its beak, robust and hooked, features a distinctive yellow-orange hue.
It hunts insects and small birds during the late afternoon and early evening. The bird is also an opportunistic nester, often taking over old nests abandoned by other birds. Moreover, this territorial bird usually hunts alone or in pairs.
The Oriental Hobby is a medium-sized Asian falcon species. They weigh between 6.5 to 9 ounces and measure about 10 to 12 inches in length. They sport a sleek coat of gray and rufous feathers, contrasted by dark, slate-colored beaks and slate-blue feet.
Likewise, it is an efficient hunter that catches prey mid-flight, including beetles, dragonflies, butterflies, small birds, and bats.
The Oriental Hobby nests in the cooler regions of the Himalayas and migrates to Southeast Asia during winter.
The Peregrine Falcon is a bird of prey known for its exceptional flying abilities3. It is the world’s fastest bird, reaching up to 240mph.
They hover between 15-20 inches in size and weigh from 1.2 to 3.5 pounds. This raptor showcases slate-gray backs and barred white undersides, its beak—piercing yellow, as sharp as its predatory instincts. The intricate design of their plumage sets them apart, truly an exhibition of nature's canvas.
Moreover, Peregrine Falcons are globally distributed species often found near coasts, cliffs, mountains, and bodies of water.
These falcons hunt for smaller birds such as pigeons, doves, waterfowl, songbirds, and waders. Their razor-sharp talons make them highly efficient predators.
The Merlin Falcon is a bird of prey known for its excellent hunting abilities and swift flight. It is found across the Northern Hemisphere in various habitats and is highly adaptable. As a migratory bird, this type of falcon travels south during winter and primarily feeds on small birds.
Female Merlin Falcons are larger than males, and their plumage is brown, while males are slate-blue to dark gray. They measure between 9.4 and 13.4 inches long and weigh approximately 5.6-8.5 ounces.
The bird has an average lifespan of six years in the wild but can live up to ten years in captivity.
The Prairie Falcon is a bird of prey that inhabits the arid regions of North and Central America.
They typically measure about 14 to 20 inches in length and weigh between 1.5 and 3.3 pounds. Exhibiting earth-toned plumage, this raptor bears a dominant beige-pale body that contrasts with the darker axillaries. The beak, impressively robust, reveals a muted yellow hue.
Prairie falcons tend to eat whatever is available, such as ground squirrels and prairie dogs. Still, they may also catch smaller birds or reptiles. Moreover, the prairie falcon hunts using a high-speed dive or "stoop" to catch prey in mid-air.
This bird is territorial, especially during its breeding season from March to July, and breeding pairs return to the same nesting site year after year5, usually on cliff faces.
The Grey Falcon is a vulnerable bird species; the scientific community considers it one of Australia's rarest birds of prey.
The Grey Falcon is notable for its light-grey plumage, which gives the bird its name. Their wingtips and tail feathers often feature a darker shade of grey. Their beak is blue-grey that lightens at the base, while their feet are a vivid yellow. A small bird, the Grey Falcon usually measures 14-17 inches in length and weighs from 1.2 to 1.6 pounds.
Thanks to its pale grey feathers, this bird can blend into its habitat, primarily in arid and semi-arid regions. Grey falcons live in open habitats with sparse vegetation.
The Grey Falcon is a highly skilled hunter known for its skill and speed. Its diet is diverse and ranges from mammals to reptiles. However, it is particularly noteworthy for its hunting of other birds.
The Red-footed Falcon soars freely across Europe and Asia. This raptor is relatively small, measuring 28-34 cm in length, but it has red feet and 'trousers' that stand out from the rest of its body. The male falcon has a blue-grey coat, while the females and juveniles have a browner shade.
These types of falcons maneuver mid-air to catch their prey adeptly, feeding mainly on beetles and grasshoppers. However, they also hunt small mammals, birds, and amphibians. Red-footed Falcons also hunt in teams.
They prefer open spaces such as marshes, heaths, and farmlands and often occupy abandoned nests of rooks and crows.
Both parents take responsibility for raising their young from egg to flight, and they are naturally monogamous.
The Sooty Falcon is a prey bird inhabiting North Africa and the Middle East. They exhibit a streamlined body with an overall grey-blue color. Even more striking is its sleek, curved yellow beak. The adults are approximately 13-16 inches long and weigh around 0.5 pounds, lending them a moderate build.
This type of falcon undertakes remarkable long-distance migrations. An adult Sooty Falcon traveled over 3400 miles from UAE to Madagascar in 13 days1.
The Sooty Falcon is a skilled hunter, using its swift and agile flight to catch prey in mid-air. Its diet consists mainly of small birds and flying insects, although it prefers dragonflies. Interestingly, it likes to hunt at dawn or dusk.
The Aplomado Falcon is a slender bird, typically measuring 13 to 17 inches long and weighing 9 to 14 ounces. Its plumage is distinct: a gray-blue upper body and wings contrast against a creamy underside streaked with thin, dark bands. The falcon's beak, a pointed tool, is a stark yellow-orange.
The bird lives in the Americas, ranging from the southwestern parts of the United States through Central and South America, including Southern Mexico and Northern Argentina.
Aplomado Falcons prefer wide-open spaces, sparse vegetation of grasslands and savannas, far-reaching marshes, semi-arid regions, and forest clearings.
While hunting, a small group or pair of falcons work together to flush out prey from its hiding place, with others waiting to swoop in for the kill.
Aplomado Falcons are not picky eaters, preying on small birds, insects, mammals, or reptiles.
The bird's call is a quick, high-pitched note followed by a longer, lower-pitched note.
Observing a Brown Falcon can be an exciting experience. As its name portrays, it has a predominantly brown plumage, with hues ranging from shoulder to dusk. Its beak is sturdy, hooked, and light grey, an attribute that marks its predatory lifestyle.
These types of falcons span between 18-24 inches in length, typically weighing from 1.1 to 2.7 pounds. They can thrive in habitats such as open woodlands, grasslands, arid regions, and urban areas. It feeds on mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, and occasionally scavenges carrion.
When hunting, the Brown Falcon perches high above the ground, scanning for potential prey. It swoops quickly once it spots a target, sometimes going on a mid-air chase.
The Amur Falcon, a small bird of prey, weighs about 4.2 to 7.8 ounces with a wingspan measuring 32 to 40 inches. Distinctive in appearance, they sport slate-grey plumage on their upperparts while their underparts exhibit a stunning orange color.
Amur Falcons are known widely for having the longest migration route on an open sea of all birds of prey2; for around 9,000 miles,, they travel between their breeding grounds in southeast Russia and northern China and the coasts of eastern or southern Africa.
The Saker Falcon is a large bird of prey found in Eastern Europe and Asia. Its light-to-dark distinguishes it contrasted plumage, varying from a sandy brown to ruddy hues. It's home to dark stripes under its eyes, and its beak's grey-blue color adds a striking note.
Typically, adult Saker Falcons range from 18 to 23 inches in length, with a weight between 1.5 to 3 pounds, making it one of the larger raptor species.
It eats rodents, birds, and larger animals like hares, foxes and nests in various locations during the breeding season.
Unfortunately, IUCN classifies them as endangered falcon species due to offtake for falconry, reduction of prey, and power line electrocution.
The Gyrfalcon is the largest member of the falcon family and is found in the Arctic. It has adapted to the harsh and cold environment with its thick plumage and fast metabolic rate.
Its feathers range from a striking white to jet black, often with flecks of lighter colors. The sturdy beak complements the plumage with its yellow or blue-gray hue. On average, this bird measures 20 to 25 inches in length. At the same time, its weight oscillates between 2 and 4.5 pounds, affirming its formidable presence in the skies.
The bird is a high-speed aerial hunter who mainly feeds on birds and small mammals.
Our last type of falcon is a territorial and solitary creature, occupying the same nesting sites year after year. Its territory spans 9,000 square kilometers.
The American Kestrel is a small but energetic falcon commonly found in North America4, central Mexico, and the Caribbean. They can live in open grasslands, harsh deserts, and urban areas.
It is the smallest falcon species, weighing around 8 to 12 inches and weighing approximately 2.8 to 5.8 ounces. At first sight, its vibrant plumage featuring warm-toned shades of rust, gray, and white, paired with a distinct black slash near its eyes, is striking. Its slender, sharp beak is a dark yellow, often tipped with black.
The American Kestrel's diverse diet includes insects, mammals, and birds. Its unique hunting technique involves mid-air hovering and a speedy and precise dive.
North America is a continent[b] in the Northern and Western Hemispheres.[c] North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Caribbean Sea, and to the west and south by the Pacific Ocean. The region includes the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, Clipperton Island, Greenland, Mexico, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the United States.
North America
# Country Population
(2024) Land Area
(Km²) Density
(P/Km²)
1 U.S.A. 345,426,571 9,147,420 38
2 Mexico 130,861,007 1,943,950 67
3 Canada 39,742,430 9,093,510 4
4 Guatemala 18,406,359 107,160 172
5 Haiti 11,772,557 27,560 427
6 Dominican Republic 11,427,557 48,320 236
7 Cuba 10,979,783 106,440 103
8 Honduras 10,825,703 111,890 97
9 Nicaragua 6,916,140 120,340 57
10 El Salvador 6,338,193 20,720 306
11 Costa Rica 5,129,910 51,060 100
12 Panama 4,515,577 74,340 61
13 Puerto Rico 3,242,204 8,870 366
14 Jamaica 2,839,175 10,830 262
15 Trinidad and Tobago 1,507,782 5,130 294
16 Belize 417,072 22,810 18
17 Bahamas 401,283 10,010 40
18 Guadeloupe 375,106 1,690 222
19 Martinique 343,195 1,060 324
20 Barbados 282,467 430 657
21 Curaçao 185,482 444 418
22 Saint Lucia 179,744 610 295
23 Grenada 117,207 340 345
24 Aruba 108,066 180 600
25 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 100,616 390 258
26 Antigua and Barbuda 93,772 440 213
27 United States Virgin Islands 84,905 350 243
28 Cayman Islands 74,457 240 310
29 Dominica 66,205 750 88
30 Bermuda 64,636 50 1,293
31 Greenland 55,840 410,450 0
32 Saint Kitts and Nevis 46,843 260 180
33 Turks and Caicos Islands 46,535 950 49
34 Sint Maarten 43,350 34 1,275
35 British Virgin Islands 39,471 150 263
36 Caribbean Netherlands 30,675 328 94
37 Saint Martin 26,129 53 493
38 Anguilla 14,598 90 162
39 Saint Barthélemy 11,258 21 536
40 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 5,628 230 24
41 Montserrat 4,389 100 44
South America is a continent[g] entirely in the Western Hemisphere[h] and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as the southern subregion of the Americas.
South America
# Country Population
(2024) Land Area
(Km²) Density
(P/Km²)
1 Brazil 211,998,573 8,358,140 25
2 Colombia 52,886,363 1,109,500 48
3 Argentina 45,696,159 2,736,690 17
4 Peru 34,217,848 1,280,000 27
5 Venezuela 28,405,543 882,050 32
6 Chile 19,764,771 743,532 27
7 Ecuador 18,135,478 248,360 73
8 Bolivia 12,413,315 1,083,300 11
9 Paraguay 6,929,153 397,300 17
10 Uruguay 3,386,588 175,020 19
11 Guyana 831,087 196,850 4
12 Suriname 634,431 156,000 4
13 French Guiana 308,522 82,200 4
14 Falkland Islands 3,470 12,170 0
Acronicta americana, the American dagger moth, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It was originally described by Thaddeus William Harris in 1841 and is native to North America.
The North American Porcupine, or Canadian Porcupine, is the largest porcupine species in North America. It is distributed across various habitats and can reach three feet with tails up to a foot long.
It has around 30,000 barbed, hollow quills embedded into its skin or hair and can easily detach from the porcupine's body. Additionally, North American Porcupines feed on various vegetation, making it a nuisance to foresters. Predators like the North American golden eagles also hunt them.
One peculiar habit of the porcupine is self-anointing, which involves creating a paste and meticulously applying it to its quills. Scientists still do not know the reason behind this behavior.
The American Eel lives in the far-flung corners of the North Atlantic. It has a snakelike body and can grow up to five feet, though most individuals measure only two to three feet.
Its skin ranges from yellow to green-brown, and it has a lighter belly, camouflaging it in riverbeds and coastal waters.
These types of eels are both freshwater and saltwater eels. They spend most of their lives in freshwater or brackish environments. However, during the breeding season, they migrate to the ocean.
Additionally, these true eels eat various prey, such as insects, crustaceans, and fish. At night, the American eel emerges from the sand to hunt. They also don’t hesitate to step onto land for food.
American Crows are approximately 16-21 inches long, showcasing an iridescent, uniform black color. These daring birds in North America adapt comfortably to open habitats, flourishing in farmlands, forests, and cities.
Their diets are notably diverse, scavenging on grains, fruits, insects, small animals, carrion, and human food waste. Scientists have also observed them modifying wood and using it to probe a small hole where a spider lives.
Regarding parenting, the Corvidae family is practicing cooperative breeding. In the 1980s, Lawrence Kilham first observed adult and yearling American Crows take turns in parenting. Young crows can stay with their parents for five years or longer1.
Moreover, the West Nile Virus has impacted their numbers by 45% since 1999. Fortunately, thanks to their resilience, they are still a species of least concern.
The American crocodile reaches a hearty 13.5 feet in length, sporting broad snouts studded with sharp teeth for grappling prey.
They are the only crocodile species native to the US, primarily seen in southern Florida and at times sighted in Louisiana and Texas. Their olive-gray hue provides excellent camouflage in their surroundings, hiding them from prey until the ideal strike moment.
Because of their adaptability, these crocs are the most widespread of all species living in America. They can survive in fresh wetlands, coastal lagoons, and river estuaries and even handle saltwater, courtesy of special glands that filter out excess salt. Other types of crocodiles may have tolerance to salt. Still, only the American crocodile4, other than Saltwater Crocodiles, can thrive in saltwater environments.
Despite their formidable presence and efficient predation, they tend to be reserved and mainly avoid humans. Males are territorial, and despite their solitary life, they contribute significantly to the ecosystem by keeping prey populations in check.
The South American Rattlesnake, also called Tropical Rattlesnake, presents a mix of tans and browns, beautifully designed with diamond-shaped markings along its back. Averaging between 4 and 5 feet, it sports longitudinal rows of keeled scales, lending to its rugged surface texture.
Naturally occupying a broad range of habitats, it is typically found in forests, grasslands, and deserts across South America. This species is active the most during the early morning and dusk. Its diet primarily consists of small mammals, but it also preys on lizards in other areas.
The American Red Squirrel is a small, active rodent in North America's coniferous forests. Their fur is reddish and can range from a soft rusty red to a deep chestnut brown.
They are most active during the early morning and late afternoon, searching for food or guarding their territory.
Likewise, they eat coniferous tree seeds, mushrooms, fruits, and berries, and sometimes even bird eggs or young birds.
They observe "larder hoarding" to store food in a central cache for the winter months, showcasing their industrious nature.
The North American River Otter can survive in various habitats ranging from the icy rivers of Alaska to the humid marshlands of Florida.
These mustelids have a streamlined body, weighing 25 pounds and standing up to 3.5 feet. They also have a broad, flattened head and thick fur, insulating them against the cold of their watery habitats.
These otters have a varied diet, with fish being their main staple. In addition to fish, they also eat amphibians, crustaceans, small mammals, and birds.
Interestingly, North American River Otters perform a poop dance and use designated "latrine sites" for their waste deposits.
