American Kestrel Trio

Gallery: AvianPosted March 24, 20142,543 views24 comments

Found these three Kestrels flying around chasing one another. Believe this was two females and one male. I am not really versed in Kestrel behavior, but it appears as if the two females were fighting over who was going to mate with the male. Seems a bit of a role reversal from the rest of the bird behavior I have seen.

1D MIV
500mm f/4
1/8000 at f/6.3
ISO 640

Comments

24 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on March 24, 2014 at 8:02 PM

Absolutely unique action shot! Looks like he is saying, "hurry up! I'm double parked!"

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 24, 2014 at 8:15 PM

I can't even find ONE - and you get THREE???

Really nice action shot and very unique.
Great capture!

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on March 24, 2014 at 8:45 PM

Great action. The detail and color are really good. Fine image.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on March 24, 2014 at 8:51 PM

Fantastic to capture this image and with such nice detail. I've seen multiple Kestrels together in trees *during migration) but to get something like this is really special even if the sharpness is compromised a touch. I do notice two light half circles on along the tail feather and wing of the bottom kestrel

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on March 24, 2014 at 9:08 PM

Thanks Luke, missed that in my haste....lighten up the tail feathers a touch with a brush stroke and didn't see the error until now. @Sandy...I don't think I have EVER been able to get close to one either. Guess I broke out of my bad luck streak with a vengeance.

Attached corrected file

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on March 24, 2014 at 9:21 PM

I can't manage one and you have three. Not fair. Cool interaction you captured there. Beautiful colors on the male.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by David Williams on March 24, 2014 at 9:41 PM

That's some very cool action there, Kurt. Too bad the male's head wasn't turned just a little more to get a good eye shot, but his rich colors more than make up for it. Great shot!

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments

Comment posted by Marina Scarr on March 25, 2014 at 11:53 AM

Interesting behavior. Fun to capture behavior, esp with all 3 in the frame.

Registered on March 6, 2014, 11 Posts, 104 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on March 25, 2014 at 12:22 PM

that must have been a special moment Kurt. 3 kestrels!
Great interaction.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 25, 2014 at 7:45 PM

Awesome behavior action you captured Kurt

Great wing positions and detail. Re-post is an improvement.

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on March 26, 2014 at 1:43 PM

Great timing in catching this action. I haven't seen Three together let alone a dispute between females. This guy must be one stud.

Excellent shot overall. I think the faces of the females could tolerate a quick pass or two with the sharpening tool.

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Rebecka on March 26, 2014 at 1:48 PM

Wow, just WOW! I don't think the two females could have had their wings outstretched any further. Awesome, interesting action here, which is probably not seen by many people. Kudos!

Registered on February 5, 2009, 170 Posts, 924 Comments

Comment posted by Douglas Graham on March 26, 2014 at 9:01 PM

This is such a great shot just love it.

Registered on May 14, 2009, 123 Posts, 522 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 26, 2014 at 9:56 PM

Super action Kurt, nicely captured

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on March 27, 2014 at 10:33 PM

Wonderful action, Kurt, and very well photographed. I really like your composition.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on March 28, 2014 at 3:10 PM

Outstanding action and well captured Kurt,
To me it looks like a sparing match with a referee calling the action.
The colors, exposure and framing are all top notch . . .

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 3, 2014 at 12:12 PM

Pretty sure this would win - congrats on the WP!

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on April 3, 2014 at 10:13 PM

Awesome image Kurt. Congrats on the WP.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on April 4, 2014 at 2:07 PM

Fine image...congrats on your pick! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on April 7, 2014 at 10:12 AM

Kurt,
I don't know how I missed this one but you got an exceptional behavioral image here. Over the top awesome. Love the mirroring wing positions of the two females and the total care less attitude of the male.
Super congrats on the WP. Well deserved for a killer action/behavioral image.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on April 7, 2014 at 3:10 PM

Somehow missed this one, but good on having it as the WP ! Certainly well deserved, awesome action captured here ! Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on April 7, 2014 at 4:37 PM

Excellent, love the interaction Kurt!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Kathy Barnhart on April 8, 2014 at 4:39 PM

What a gorgeous and dynamic shot. Love the action and colors, and the story is pretty good too!

Registered on November 11, 2011, 404 Posts, 1639 Comments

Comment posted by Marylynne Diggs on April 9, 2014 at 7:55 PM

Excellent! Kestrels are so skittish, I can rarely get within 100 yards. The conflict must have been distracting them or perhaps you were in a blind? Wonderful nature shot.

Registered on December 14, 2010, 122 Posts, 1034 Comments