American Kestrel vs Mourning Dove

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Also known as: Sparrow Hawk

How to recognise an American kestrel?

General appearance

The American kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America, measuring about 9-12 inches in length. It is renowned for its vibrant plumage and striking facial markings, including a pair of vertical black stripes on a white face. The wings are pointed, and the bird exhibits a rusty orange back and tail with a grey crown. Its flight is characterized by a swift, agile motion with frequent hovering.

Male vs female

Males are more vividly colored than females, displaying slate-blue wings sharply contrasting with their rufous backs and tails. The male's tail has a single broad black band at the tip. Females exhibit a more uniform rufous coloration on their wings and back, with black barring throughout and multiple narrow black bands on the tail, making them appear less vibrant than males.

Juvenile

Juvenile American kestrels resemble adult females but have darker streaking on their underparts and may appear less distinctly marked overall. Their plumage is more subdued, and young birds lack the full brilliance of mature individuals. Juveniles molt into adult plumage by their first winter, reducing differences as they mature.

Size

8.7 - 12.2 in/2.8 - 5.8 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The American Kestrel prefers open or semi-open areas such as open country, farmland, forest clearings, and cities. They require adequate prey and raised perches.

Additional range

Complementary habitats include agricultural lands, desert regions, and urban environments. In breeding season, they favour habitats with appropriate nesting sites. During winter, more females than males reside in open habitats.

Range Map

What do American kestrels like to eat?

Natural diet

The American kestrel primarily preys on large insects such as grasshoppers, beetles, dragonflies, moths, and caterpillars. Its diet also includes small mammals like voles, mice, and occasionally bats. Small birds, sometimes up to the size of quail, are also part of its diet, alongside reptiles like lizards and frogs. Additionally, it consumes earthworms, spiders, crayfish, and other similar items.

Bird feeders

American kestrels do not typically feed at bird feeders. They prefer hunting live prey in their natural habitats.

What does an American kestrel sound like?

The American kestrel, a small falcon species, emits a piercing scream-like vocalization most commonly referred to as "killy-killy-killy," reflecting a shrill, sharp and repetitive pattern. This flat and simple call, often used as its signature sound, can leave a lasting impression due to its intense, demanding tonality. Rather than intricate songs, the American kestrel is primarily known for this single, characteristic scream.

Song

Audio by Jayrson Araujo De Oliveira

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura

Also known as: American Mourning Dove, Rain Dove, Turtle Dove, Carolina Pigeon, Carolina Turtledove

How to recognise a mourning dove?

General appearance

The mourning dove is roughly the size of a crow, bearing characteristics of a long, pointed tail which is about 12', or 30 cm long. This tail displays white spots along its edge while in flight. The bird’s wings are adorned with black spots and its overall coloration exhibits hues of black, brown, gray, pink, tan, and white. The dove has a pointed, wedge-shaped tail.

Male vs female

The sexes of mourning doves can be distinguished by their coloration. Adult males generally have a pinkish tinge on their chests and a blue-gray tone on their crowns. However, the female doves are more dull and plain, predominantly appearing in a shade of brown.

Juvenile

Young mourning doves have a unique scaly appearance that can lead them to be confused with the Inca Dove or the Common Ground Dove. They do not possess the vivid coloring of the adults and generally appear more muted in color.

Size

9.1 - 13.4 in/3.0 - 6.0 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The mourning dove primarily inhabits open and semi-open locations in temperate parts of North America. This includes farms, towns, open woods, roadsides, and grasslands.

Additional range

It is prevalent in places with both trees and open ground, known as edge habitats, and occasionally in treeless areas. Unexpectedly, it also frequents suburban areas, farmland, prairies, and deserts, while avoiding unbroken forests.

Range Map

What do mourning doves like to eat?

Natural diet

The mourning dove predominantly consumes seeds, which constitute 99% of its diet. It shows a preference for seeds from cultivated grains, grasses, ragweeds, and various other plants. Occasionally, its natural diet includes snails and very rarely any insects.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, mourning doves enjoy seeds commonly provided, such as millet and cracked corn. Their preference aligns with the availability of cultivated grain and grass seeds often found in birdseed mixes.

What does a mourning dove sound like?

The mourning dove's vocalizations are characterized by its low, mournful coo-ah followed by three coos. This unique call pattern is projected in a falling, flat, yet undulating manner. Despite its melancholic tone, the dove's hoot type call is nonetheless captivating and distinct, reinforcing its colloquial name.

Call

Audio by Francis C, Ortega C, Cruz A

/ CC BY-SA 2.5

Song

Audio by Gabriel Leite

/ CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

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American Kestrel

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Mourning Dove

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Also known as: Sparrow Hawk

General appearance

The American kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America, measuring about 9-12 inches in length. It is renowned for its vibrant plumage and striking facial markings, including a pair of vertical black stripes on a white face. The wings are pointed, and the bird exhibits a rusty orange back and tail with a grey crown. Its flight is characterized by a swift, agile motion with frequent hovering.

Male vs female

Males are more vividly colored than females, displaying slate-blue wings sharply contrasting with their rufous backs and tails. The male's tail has a single broad black band at the tip. Females exhibit a more uniform rufous coloration on their wings and back, with black barring throughout and multiple narrow black bands on the tail, making them appear less vibrant than males.

Juvenile

Juvenile American kestrels resemble adult females but have darker streaking on their underparts and may appear less distinctly marked overall. Their plumage is more subdued, and young birds lack the full brilliance of mature individuals. Juveniles molt into adult plumage by their first winter, reducing differences as they mature.

Size

8.7 - 12.2 in/2.8 - 5.8 oz

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Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura

Also known as: American Mourning Dove, Rain Dove, Turtle Dove, Carolina Pigeon, Carolina Turtledove

General appearance

The mourning dove is roughly the size of a crow, bearing characteristics of a long, pointed tail which is about 12', or 30 cm long. This tail displays white spots along its edge while in flight. The bird’s wings are adorned with black spots and its overall coloration exhibits hues of black, brown, gray, pink, tan, and white. The dove has a pointed, wedge-shaped tail.

Male vs female

The sexes of mourning doves can be distinguished by their coloration. Adult males generally have a pinkish tinge on their chests and a blue-gray tone on their crowns. However, the female doves are more dull and plain, predominantly appearing in a shade of brown.

Juvenile

Young mourning doves have a unique scaly appearance that can lead them to be confused with the Inca Dove or the Common Ground Dove. They do not possess the vivid coloring of the adults and generally appear more muted in color.

Size

9.1 - 13.4 in/3.0 - 6.0 oz

There's more to learn about Mourning Dove

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How to tell the American Kestrel from the Mourning Dove

Visual differences

The American Kestrel, measuring 9-12 inches, features vibrant plumage with a rusty orange back and slate-blue wings in males, alongside black facial stripes. In contrast, the Mourning Dove is slightly larger, about 12 inches long, with a pointed tail marked by white edges and softer, muted colors, including tan, gray, and pink. Kestrels have pointed wings, while doves have broad ones. Kestrels display a pronounced hooked beak, typical of raptors, whereas the dove's beak is sleeker and more delicate. These visual distinctions aid in identifying each bird species.

Key differences and behavior

The American Kestrel and Mourning Dove exhibit distinct behaviors and preferences. American Kestrels are small, agile falcons preferring open areas like farmland and urban spaces, emphasizing perched hunting primarily on insects and small vertebrates. They display aerial courtship and raise their young in high cavities, both parents nurturing the brood. In contrast, Mourning Doves inhabit open and semi-open areas with an affinity for seeds, often visiting feeders. Their courtship involves ground displays, and they prefer constructing low, flimsy nests in trees or shrubs, with both parents sharing incubation and chick feeding, the latter through crop milk.