American Kestrel
Photo by Matt Valencic

Searching for winter raptors is done from the comfort of your car. Just drive around appropriate habitats, find safe places to stop, then start looking! Some raptors are year-round residents, like Red-tailed, Red-shouldered and Cooper’s Hawks. Others, like Northern Harrier’s, Rough-legged Hawks and Short-eared Owls, arrive here in November/December from their breeding grounds in Canada or the arctic tundra. Get to know their desired habitats and the time of day they hunt, then check eBird to learn where they are being seen (use EXPLORE Species Maps feature). Pack a lunch, grab a birding friend or three, then go ‘chasing’ raptors on a sunny, winter day.

American Kestrels are the smallest falcons in North America, favoring open areas like mixed fields, pastures and grasslands.  They reside in NE Ohio year-round.  They hunt for large insects and small mammals from perches on power lines, trees and fence posts, and by hovering above the ground in one spot until they spot their prey.  Being cavity nesters, breeding is limited by available natural cavities.  We can help populations by providing nest boxes in known Kestrel territories.