The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) is the only kestrel found in the New world and is arguably the most sexually dimorphic species in the group in coloration. The wide geographic range of this species presents a unique system for the study of sexual dimorphism in the life histories of kestrels and other birds of prey.
UC Berkeley's researcher Beth Wommack is using the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center (HREC) as a place to look more closely at specific plumage characteristics that may be used as fitness signals with a multi-year nest box program.
Maintenance of active nest box sites allows for an examination of both differences in tail patterning and reflectance of the shoulder plumage between breeding adult males and between generations of fathers and sons. This long-term study that is on-going simultaneously at the UC Ag and Natural Resource's HREC and at the UC Natural Reserve System's Blue Oak Ranch Reserve will be beneficial to raptor biology on a worldwide-scale.
