Bird ID Help Please

My buddy and I were out shooting in Northeast PA this morning. He said, let's go check out this spot where these Peregrine Falcons hang out, so off we went.

I was skeptical they were falcons, but I got back and looked closer at these photos (I'll post a series of them including a possible mating attempt).

I'm pretty certain they are American Kestrels, and not a falcon, nor a Merlin. Probably an easy ID for a trained ID, I used the Cornell Lab site to come to my semi-uneducated guess!!! Thanks for your help!!

Bill

A view of the pair.

This lasted about 2 seconds. ;)

And then the fly off, we could have chased them for hours as they went from pole to pole, and wire to wire. Thanks again!!!

They are American Kestrels, which are the smallest falcons in North America.

Kestrels are sexually dimorphic - the make and female are different, and the female is larger. You photos nicely illustrate the plumage differences and the size difference.

Great captures, Bill! These aren't real common around eastern PA.

We used to call them Sparrow Hawks in the good old days. Truth be told Kestrels eat more insects than sparrows!

Wonderful shots, great sequence.

I got some Red-shouldered hawks "doing their thing" in the front yard and my wife thought I was invading their privacy. LOL

Keep up the good work.
nick

Thanks everyone for your help and comments--good to know Neven, I'll have to keep track at this spot, just a mile from my home.

A good resource for bird distribution in summer in PA is the Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas. I've linked to the results for American Kestrel and shown the basic map. You can view data more specific to your location by selecting a local atlas block.

Before concluding that lack of observations in an area is due to lack of birds make sure that the area had assigned blocks and active field observers.