Falco sparverius paulus
(Howe and King, 1902)
Southeastern American Kestrel
T4T4Global Rank
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104862
Element CodeABNKD06022
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSubspecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
CITESAppendix II
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations, but breeds in a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderFalconiformes
FamilyFalconidae
GenusFalco
Other Common Names
southeastern American kestrel (EN)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1957. The AOU check-list of North American birds, 5th ed. Port City Press, Inc., Baltimore, MD. 691 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
This nonmigratory subspecies is smaller and less spotted ventrally (males) than more northern races, which are migratory and may coexist with F. s. paulus outside of the breeding season.
Conservation Status
Review Date1999-11-14
Change Date1996-11-22
Edition Date1999-11-14
Edition AuthorsJACKSON, D. R.; REVISIONS BY M. KOENEN AND D.W. MEHLMAN.
Range Extent250-20,000 square km (about 100-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
F. S. PAULUS is endemic to the lower southeast Coastal Plain; it appears to have undergone a population decline as a result of destruction of habitat, principally the longleaf pine/sandhill ecosystem. However, it does tolerate some disturbance if certain limiting factors (e.g., dead trees for nesting) are maintained.
Range Extent Comments
RESIDENT: eastern Texas, Louisiana, central and southern parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina. Florida except the southernmost counties and the keys (AOU 1957, Johnsgard 1990, Lane and Fisher 1997).
Occurrences Comments
Exact number of occurrences unknown. Occurs patchily throughout much of range.
Threat Impact Comments
HABITAT: Reasons for decline include habitat destruction, especially of nest trees. In north-central Florida, population decline associated with removal of isolated longleaf pines from agricultural fields, residential development, and timber production. In south-central Florida habitat loss attributed to conversion of longleaf pine-turkey oak to citrus groves. Extirpation from southern Florida due to cutting of virgin slash pine forest and modification of the understory by clearing and fire suppression (Hoffman and Collopy 1988). PESTICIDES: Insecticides likely play deleterious role. PREDATION: Nestling mortality has been reported due to snakes and fire ants in north-central Florida (Stys 1993, cited in Lane and Fisher 1997). Also likely affected by mammalian and avian predators. DISTURBANCE: Hunting is a threat. Most banded recoveries came from shot birds (Terres 1991). Fifty-two percent of birds found killed, injured, or incapacitated due to collisions with motor vehicles (Stys 1993, cited in Lane and Fisher 1997).
Ecology & Habitat
Description
Pointed wings, reddish back and tail, two black stripes on each side of white sides of head; male has blue-gray wings (NGS 1983).
Diagnostic Characteristics
Adult males are smaller and less spotted ventrally (center of belly and breast immaculate or nearly so) than are more northern races; adult females usually have a shorter tail than do those of the nominate subspecies (Friedmann 1950).
Habitat
Open or partly open habitat: optimal habitat is sandhill, although can adapt to clearings with dead trees; also prairies, coasts, wooded streams, burned forest, cultivated lands and farmland with scattered trees, open woodland, roadsides, suburbs, and some urban areas. In winter in Florida, males use less open habitats than do females (Smallwood 1987, Palmer 1988).
Nests in natural holes in trees, abandoned woodpecker holes, holes in buildings or cliffs, and similar sites. Readily uses nest-boxes, which may dramatically increase density of nesting pairs in some areas (may use boxes put up for wood duck). Rarely returns to breed in vicinity where reared, but breeders tend to return to their previous territories (Palmer 1988).
Nests in natural holes in trees, abandoned woodpecker holes, holes in buildings or cliffs, and similar sites. Readily uses nest-boxes, which may dramatically increase density of nesting pairs in some areas (may use boxes put up for wood duck). Rarely returns to breed in vicinity where reared, but breeders tend to return to their previous territories (Palmer 1988).
Reproduction
See Palmer (1988) for egg dates. Clutch size is 3-7 (usually 4-5). Incubation is mainly by female, usually lasts 29-31 days. Young are tended by both parents, leave nest in about 29-31 days, may stay with parents for 2-4 weeks or more (no later than late summer). Readily lays replacement clutch if first clutch is lost. Most first breed at one year. Monogamy through successive breeding seasons seems to prevail (Palmer 1988).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedSavannaGrassland/herbaceousOld fieldCliffCropland/hedgerowSuburban/orchard
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | SNR | Yes |
| South Carolina | SU | Yes |
| Louisiana | S2 | Yes |
| Mississippi | S2 | Yes |
| Georgia | S2 | Yes |
| Florida | S3 | Yes |
Roadless Areas (17)
Alabama (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Reed Brake | Talladega National Forest | 621 |
Arkansas (2)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Mountain | Ouachita National Forest | 9,755 |
| Little Blakely | Ouachita National Forest | 3,342 |
Florida (5)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander Springs Creek | Ocala National Forest | 2,954 |
| Clear Lake | Apalachicola National Forest | 5,592 |
| Farles Prairie | Ocala National Forest | 1,901 |
| Pinhook | Osceola National Forest | 15,405 |
| Savannah | Apalachicola National Forest | 1,927 |
Louisiana (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Cunningham Brake Research Natural Area | Kisatchie National Forest | 1,797 |
North Carolina (6)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Catfish Lake North | Croatan National Forest | 11,299 |
| Catfish Lake South - A | Croatan National Forest | 217 |
| Catfish Lake South - B | Croatan National Forest | 172 |
| Pocosin Addition | Croatan National Forest | 286 |
| Pond Pine B | Croatan National Forest | 2,961 |
| Sheep Ridge Addition | Croatan National Forest | 5,808 |
South Carolina (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Wambaw Ext | Francis Marion National Forest | 527 |
Texas (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Little Lake Creek | National Forests in Texas | 596 |
References (14)
- American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1957. The AOU check-list of North American birds, 5th ed. Port City Press, Inc., Baltimore, MD. 691 pp.
- Collopy, M.W. 1996. Southeastern American kestrel <i>Falco sparverius paulus</i>. Pages 211-218 in J. A. Rodgers, Jr., H. W. Kale II, and H. T. Smith, editors. Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida. Volume V Birds. [R. E. Ashton, Jr., series editor]. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
- Friedmann, H. 1950. The birds of North and Middle America. Part XI. U.S. National Museum Bull. 50.
- Hamel, P. B., H. E. LeGrand Jr., M. R. Lennartz, and S. A. Gauthreaux, Jr. 1982. Bird-habitat relationships on southeastern forest lands. U.S. Forest Service General Technical Report SE-22.
- Hoffman, M. L. and M. W. Collopy. 1988. Historical status of the American kestrel (FALCO SPARVERIUS PAULUS) in Florida. Wilson Bull. 100: 91-107.
- Johnsgard, P. A. 1990. Hawks, eagles, and falcons of North America. Smithsonian Inst. Press, Washington, D.C. xvi + 403 pp.
- Lane, J. J. and R. A. Fisher. 1997. Species Profile: Southeastern American Kestrel (FALCO SPARVERIUS PAULUS) on military installations in the Southeastern United States. Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program. Tech. Rept. SERDP-97-4. US Corps of Engineers, US Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station.
- Palmer, R. S., ed. 1988b. Handbook of North American birds. Vol. 5. Yale Univ. Press, New Haven. 465 pp.
- Sauer, J.R., J.E. Hines, G. Gough, I. Thomas, and B.G. Peterjohn. 1997b. July 29-last update. The North American Breeding Bird Survey Results and Analysis. Version 96.4. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD. Online. Available: http://www.mbr.nbs.gov/bbs/bbs.html.
- Sauer, J.R., S. Schwartz, and B. Hoover. 1996. The Christmas Bird Count Home Page. Version 95.1 U.S.G.S. Biological Resource Division, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD. Online. Available: http://www.mbr.nbs.gov/bbs/cbc.html.
- Smallwood, J. A. 1987. Sexual segregation by habitat in American kestrels wintering in southcentral Florida: vegeta-tive structure and responses to differential prey availability. Condor 89:842-849.
- Smallwood, J. A. 1990. American kestrel and merlin. Pages 29-37 in B. G. Pendleton et al., eds. Proc. Southeast raptor management symposium and workshop. National Wildlife Federation, Washington, D.C.
- Stys, B. 1993. Ecology and habitat protection needs of the southeastern American kestrel (FALCO SPARVERIUS PAULUS) on large-scale development sites in Florida. Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Comm., Nongame Wildlife Program Tech Rep. No. 13. Tallahassee, FL. 35pp.
- Terres, J.K. 1991. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.