Our namesake falcon, the American Kestrel (Falco Sparverius), is the most abundant and best-looking falcon that lives in the United States. Often referred to by its former name, the Sparrowhawk, the Kestrel is only the size of a dove or jay, yet it is one of the fiercest falcons. Preying on anything from birds, to small mammals to even large insects, it lives in open areas throughout the country. They have been known to take large birds and bats on the wing and  also eat prey their size, like squirrels. They also have been seen  attacking and driving off larger birds of prey like owls, hawks and even eagles by literally dive-bombing them. This is to protect themselves and to keep the prey on their territories for themselves. The Kestrel hunts from perches like fenceposts and trees, scanning the ground below for prey, often using their ability to see ultraviolet light. They nest in large woodpecker holes, man-made bird houses and even in Saguaro cactus in the desert southwest. They have a wide range in the Western Hemisphere, occurring all the way from the Tierra del Fuego up into Alaska. They live all year round in Connecticut and can be attracted by artificial nest cavities and open areas with tallgrass meadows.