Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Sparrow Hawk

Laurien and Joe, this one is for you! This is the species of bird that was perched on the wire at Burnsmead this afternoon, though the bird in my photo was taken on Saturday at the Coaldale Bird of Prey Centre. I still have to download my (very distant) photos to my computer, but I did check, and it was definitely an American Kestrel that we saw. Not sure yet if it was a male (as in my image) or female. Is this more or less how you remember the "orange" colouring that you mentioned? It was so much fun to unexpectedly bump into you both down there! Finally, we've met : )

Unfortunately, not taken in the wild! I do see American Kestrels in the wild here, but always from a great distance. Seeing this particular bird at the Coaldale Birds of Prey Centre, near Lethbridge, southern Alberta, gave me a chance to see a Kestrel up close. This is a male, as it has a rusty back and blue/grey wing feathers. Really, a very attractive bird. These falcons typically perch on power lines, which helps identify them.

I spent a wonderful day on Monday with a friend who had asked if I'd like to go to the Coaldale Birds of Prey Centre, near Lethbridge, southern Alberta. It was just over a two-hour drive there and the temperature down south was 37C (roughly 106F)! This Centre is "Canada’s largest birds of prey facility. Situated on a 70-acre wetland area site, the centre is a celebration of nature featuring the hawks, falcons, eagles and owls of Alberta. Throughout the site and along the pathways, a number of birds of prey are sitting on their perches only feet away from visitors. These birds are all in various stages of training and receive lots of exercise in the daily flying programs. At the centre, they have one of North America's largest captive breeding populations for the endangered Burrowing Owl." This is a male American Kestrel. The Kestrel is the smallest of our five falcons. They typically perch on power lines.