Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Breeding Range. (Fig 50). Common in the southern portion of the Agassiz Lake Plain Region (within Richland County, northeastern Sargent County, eastern Ransom County, and southern Cass County), along the sector of the Missouri River valley that extends downstream from Garrison Dam to a point about 10 miles below Bismarck, and in the southern half of the Little Missouri Slope (within Bowman and Slope Counties and in southern halves of Billings and Golden Valley Counties); fairly common in the central and northern portions of the Agassiz Lake Plain Region, in the Turtle Mountains, in the northern half of the Little Missouri Slope, and along other sectors of the Missouri River valley and adjoining portions of tributary valleys; uncommon (fairly common locally) on the Northwestern Drift Plain (most numerous on the Souris Lake Plain in McHenry County); rare (uncommon locally) on the Northeastern and Southern Drift Plains, Missouri Coteau, Missouri Slope, and portions of the Coteau Slope that lie outside of the Missouri River valley and adjoining portions of tributary valleys.
Although breeding populations are still well represented in the state, it is apparent that a considerable reduction in numbers has taken place since the late 1800's. During the summer of 1873, Coues (1878) recorded American Kestrels as "very abundant" from Pembina west through the Mouse River region. Allen (1874) also recorded this species as "very abundant" in 1873 along the timbered portions of streams from the Missouri River near Fort Rice west to the Montana line. In the summer of 1874 it was listed by Grinnell (1875) as abundant along the expedition route from Fort Lincoln southwest toward the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Breeding Habitat. Brushy margins of forest or groves of trees (including mature tree-claims) and open brushy tracts of woodland; also ranges out over adjoining expanses of prairie, cropland, and badlands.
Nesting. Breeding season: Mid-April to late August; peak, mid-May to late July. A pair was observed investigating martin boxes on April 15 [1916] in Richland County (Jensen 1918). Extreme egg dates (12 nests): May 9 [1916] in Richland County (Jensen 1918) to June 21 [1843] in Williams County (McDermott 1951). Nestling dates (2 nests): July 29 [1915] in McHenry County (R. Kellogg) and August 30 [1874] in Morton County (Grinnell 1875). Many families of dependent young on the wing were observed on July 22 [1966] in Richland County (RES), during July 23-27 [1913] in Williams County (V. Bailey), during July 25-30 [1913] in Oliver County (S. G. Jewett); and on July 27 [1974] in Grand Forks County (R. L. Rytter).
Nests are situated in cavities and holes (including flicker holes) of dead trees or dead snags of living trees, usually from 8 to 30 feet above the ground. Occasionally, bird boxes with large entrance holes are utilized. During 1874 along the expedition route from Fort Lincoln southwest toward the Black Hills, Grinnell (1875) reported that this species was found nesting in holes of trees in timbered areas and in clefts or holes of clay banks and bluffs in more open country.
Indicated clutch size (8 nests): 4 to 5 eggs; mean, 4.7 eggs.
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| Figure 50. Breeding Range of American Kestrel. |
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U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/bbofnd/species/3600.htm
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