Mass Audubon's Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Preliminary Results:
American Kestrel Population Declining in Massachusetts

The American Kestrel, Falco sparverius, is a small falcon that breeds from the Arctic through most of Canada and the United States. Related falcons can be found almost world-wide.

Kestrels eat insects, small mammals, snakes, and even catch birds on the wing. They tend to perch high up in an open area, watching for prey. This makes them easier to observe than many other raptors.

They prefer to nest in a hole in a tree or post, and will readily use nest boxes.

American Kestrels migrate south, with some more northerly birds probably wintering in Massachusetts, along with some who remain here year-round.

Breeding Population Changes Between BBA1 and BBA2

In BBA1, American Kestrels were found in half of the blocks surveyed, with higher populations in the Berkshires, the Connecticut River Valley, and Eastern Massachusetts down to the Cape and Islands.

BBA2 has found far fewer breeding Kestrels. The decline seems to be fairly evenly distributed throughout the state, although the Cape and Islands, and the Bershires have shown the greatest loss of kestrels.

One contributing factor may be the growing population of Cooper's Hawks, which prey on birds, including kestrels.