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Mass Audubon State of the Birds

Find a Bird

American Kestrel
Falco sparverius

The American Kestrel is among the most precipitously declining birds in the Commonwealth. The distribution of this grassland falcon has shrunk by more than 50 percent in 30 years. Today its breeding range in Massachusetts is somewhat restricted.
Conservation Status
Conservation Action Urgent

Tracking This Bird In Massachusetts

Climate Vulnerability Score

Least Vulnerable
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (current)
0.53
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (2050)
0.53
Mass Audubon Absolute change in likelihood of occurrence
0.00
U.S. Forest Service Climate Change Bird Atlas (Hadly Hi emissions scenario)a
-1.90
National Audubon Societyb
Climate Threatened
a USFS model data for Massachusetts by 2100
b National Audubon Society's Climate Change Atlas was completed on a continental scale.

Breeding Bird Atlas

Atlas I Blocks
498
Atlas II Blocks
215
Percent of state occupied - Atlas I
51
Percent of state occupied - Atlas II
20
Percent change
37

Breeding Bird Survey

Annual trend 1966-2010
-6.2%
P-value
significant, declining
Number of routes
24
Recent trend 2000-2010
-5.7%

Christmas Bird Count

Trend (1963-2008)
-7
Significantly different than zero
yes
Trend (1963-1979)
3
Significantly different than zero
yes
Trend (1979-2008)
-12
Significantly different than zero
yes
Christmas Bird Count Sightings By Year
Data reflects sightings per person per hour in order to account for varying numbers of yearly volunteers.

Habitat Usage

Breeding

Grassland, Urban and Suburban

Wintering

Grassland, Urban and Suburban

Climate Suitability Current and 2050