Male American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), Kiting
Yes, kiting! Hovering stationless in the air, beating his wings, looking down -- for voles, as we shall see. I have seen this behavior in our kites, but didn't know that kestrels did it too. (OK, you probably already knew this.) Did the kestrel learn it from the kite? Convergent evolution of this behavior, discovered indeendently by two different species? Inherited from a remote joint ancestor?? Let me know if you have an idea about this. Near the lone valley oak on Road F at Trail 15. 8:39:59 am.