Kestrels around the city

We see American Kestrels year-round in the city, and below are some shots I've collected from around Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. The males have spotted chests, blue wings, and rusty tails, while the females have brown streaky bodies, brown wings and brown banded tails. Both are very attractive.

Male:

 

Female:

 

Male:

 

Female:

 

Kestrels like to perch on tall pointed objects, like the spindly branch above and the finger below. 

You can usually hear kestrels before spotting them, as they are small but loud fast-flying falcons. Listen for their high shrieky calls, which can be heard over the sounds of traffic and air-conditioners.

 

2025 Bird Highlights - Part 1

The majority of this site is dedicated to documenting the Tompkins Square Park red-tailed hawks, but I do get around a lot and have seen a lot of birds this year. Below are some of my favorites so far.

Black Skimmer: 

Marbled Godwit:

Green Heron:

Tricolored Heron at sunset:

Gray-Headed Swamphen:

American White Pelicans:

Least Tern:

Brown Pelicans:

Magnificent Frigatebird (female):

Great Egret at sunset:

Swallow-Tailed Kite:

Northern Mockingbird:

Pileated Woodpecker:

Sandhill Crane:

Sandhill Crane flying in for the night:

More to come.

2025 Fall Bird Migration - Part 4

I'm really enjoying this fall bird migration season and hope it continues for a while longer. Below are some highlights from the last few days.

Scarlet Tanager: 

Eating crab apple berries.

This Yellow-Breasted Chat turned up in Times Square. The interesting thing is this is not the first time this bird has been sighted in this particular pocket park just off 42nd Street & 6th Avenue. Could it be the same individual who likes the flower planters there? Who knows...

I thought this was a cute scene of a male Wilson's Warbler and a female Black-Throated Blue Warbler sharing a bird bath.

The aptly named Yellow-Rumped Warbler:

Eastern Phoebe:

Common Yellowthroat:

Nashville Warbler:

I always have to post a photo of my favorite warbler, the Northern Parula:

Prairie Warblers win the award for being the most cooperative this season. I seem to have more photos of them than any other bird.

Eastern Wood-Pewees have also been out in force this fall. I think I've seen more this season than any time in the past. They're doing a good job eating all those little invisible bitey bugs.

The city should stop with the never-ending pesticide spraying and let these little flycatchers do their job!