American Kestrel - Falco spaverius


Over the weekend I finished this latest commissioned watercolor of an American Kestrel. It's 11 x 14 inches. When I lived in Northside Chicago, I'd see kestrels quite often. I usually would spot them hunting scrubby patches of grass that line the Metra tracks. There was a pair that was nesting in a gigantic cottonwood tree near the tracks at Berteau and Wolcott. I've done paintings of kestrels before, and every time that I do, I marvel at their beautiful coloring and pattern. Now that I live in Evanston, where there is arguably more green space, I almost never see them. I am far more likely to see the larger Cooper's Hawk. In fact I spotted a Cooper's as I walked Seth, my greyhound, this morning. I saw its sharp, long tailed silhouette bullet in to a large tree.

Comments

  1. I've seen them around my neighborhood while walking Turbo my border collie, they're so magnificent! Your watercolor is just beautiful!

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  2. Diana,

    This is one of the most beautiful paintings of yours that I've seen - the colors are gorgeous and I especially like the wood grain in the branches.

    I'm jealous that you saw them so much in an urban area!

    On another note, if you haven't already seen them, I think you'll like this guy's wildlife collages made from old maps (posted on boingboing yesterday)
    http://controlccontrolv.com/laferrera/

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  3. Hi Diana, I love reading your blog and seeing all your beautiful work and methods. Just wanted to pop my head up to say hello, and WOW! I LOVE this piece, it is absolutely stunning!!

    www.tinaburke.com

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  4. Thanks everybody! Geninne, it's nice to know that you have them down in Mexico visiting you and Turbo. And Mr. Psychlops, those map collages are sweet. I have a bunch of old aerial maps from my dad from his days as a pilot. They're really beautiful, and I've been wanting to do something with them. Hmmmm.

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  5. At first glance, it looks like an Audubon - but gentler and kinder. Sometimes his birds look severe. This one is lovely.

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  6. Can't wait to see the original Diana. Thanks again.

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  7. It doesn't surprise me that you're not seeing them as often these days. It's my understanding that Kestrel populations have been on a dramatic decline in the last 3 years. I know that I'm seeing less of them in the usual places. I feisty little bird indeed. Hopefully they will experience a bit of a rebound. Your watercolor is wonderful!

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  8. Thanks for the info, Ben. I was wondering if numbers were dropping or if it had something to do with me moving to a slightly different area. I know that Cooper's Hawks were not a common sight 10-15 years ago, and now they are on the increase around here. I wonder if this has anything to do with Kestrel numbers plummeting, or if it is mainly a habitat issue.
    And yeah, I think the smaller the bird (raptor or passerine) the feistier they are!

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  9. We have them here in southern ontario as well in the warmer seasons. Your painting depicts them so wonderfully.

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