Susan Kirby

American kestrels (Falco sparverius) are some of the fastest, fiercest and most beautiful of the raptors we see in New York. They are the smallest of the falcons, and can be seen chasing smaller sparrows or larger red-tailed hawks. In the city, they nest under the eaves of buildings. I have seen them on Governors Island, Jamaica Bay, Marine Park in Brooklyn, and all around Manhattan, including Central Park.