Merced National Wildlife Refuge - American Kestrel (with mouse dinner

crMNWR - American Kestrel (3), originally uploaded by kimberzy.

The American Kestrel is a member of the falcon family, and is sometimes called the Sparrow Hawk. This, I believe, is a female, as the male has grey wings. The females are larger than the males. It is the smallest falcon in North America, and also the most common falcon in North America.