***Federal - MBTA***

    The most common and the smallest of our falcons, Kestrels can be seen on telephone wires, fence rows in rural lands, and even along highways.  All that Kestrels need to survive is grasslands in which to hunt, dead trees or nest boxes in which to rear their young, and a supply of prey.  They feed on small rodents, grasshoppers, snakes, and other small animals.  Their small size (similar to the Robin) limits their take, but they more than make up for it with their speed and feistiness.  The two sexes are colored differently - males are brighter red with slate grey/blue wings.  Females tend to be duller brown with similar colored wings.
    Their are three other falcons in New York.  The Gyrfalcon is the largest, but is an extremely rare winter visitor.  The Peregrine Falcon is an endangered bird that nests on tall buildings and bridges in the larger cities (and recently on the Niagara Gorge.)  The final falcon is the Merlin, slightly larger than the Kestrel, but faster and less commonly seen.  Merlins are feisty, having been known to attack other birds of prey as large as eagles.  Merlins also show sexual dichromatism- males being a solid slate grey and females dull brown.