Outdoor Ontario

Photography => Ontario Birds => Topic started by: Rob'in'To on February 17, 2011, 04:21:29 PM

Title: American Kestrels... pair?
Post by: Rob'in'To on February 17, 2011, 04:21:29 PM

I was getting gas at Scarlett and Edinridge when I noticed a bird across the road at the highest point in a tree.  I got out the binoculars to see that it was an American Kestrel.  I parked the truck and trekked over for a couple quick shots.  As I turned around to cross back over Scarlett, I noticed a second Kestrel.  A pair maybe?  

East side Kestrel
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/lilevl13/kestrel-1.jpg)

West side Kestrel
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/lilevl13/kestrel3.jpg)

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Post by: Luv2Bird on February 17, 2011, 04:34:36 PM

Nice captures. Isn't it nice when they just "happen" to be there AND you have a camera with you!  They may both be males.  Their very red tails makes one wonder if they aren't related to RTHs .. :D

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Post by: Reuven_M on February 17, 2011, 04:44:26 PM

Quote from: "Luv2Bird"

Nice captures. Isn't it nice when they just "happen" to be there AND you have a camera with you!  They may both be males.  Their very red tails makes one wonder if they aren't related to RTHs .. :D

They are probably even more distantly related than you might think, latest research has falcons most closely related to parrots, songbirds and seriemas, while the common ancestor of this group and other raptors also led to owls, trogons and woodpeckers, among other things.

Nice pics, the first is a male and the second a female.

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Post by: JW Mills on February 17, 2011, 10:51:24 PM

Nice catch Rob!

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Post by: Rob'in'To on February 18, 2011, 04:59:43 AM

Thanks!  Who doesn't love these colorful guys?  Nicer days "springing" up tends to have me with the camera a little more and the binoculars.