Attract this bird

How to attract American to your yard

American Kestrels respond to four things: the right food, the right plants, water and safe nesting cover. Here is what each means for this particular bird, drawn from its range across 61 states and provinces.

Falcons (Falconidae)American KestrelFalco sparverius

First: is it in your area, and when?

You can only attract a bird that passes through or lives near you, so start with timing. The American Kestrel is a year-round resident in 54 states and provinces, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, British Columbia, California, Colorado and 48 more — there, a yard can host it in every season. It arrives only to breed in 7, such as Alaska, Alberta, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan and 1 more, so set up before spring arrival.

See the American Kestrel in your state →

Plant what American use

These native plants are tied to the American Kestrel in our regional plant lists (Audubon Native Plants and state sources). The count shows how many states or provinces list the plant for this bird — higher means it works across more of the range. Pick the ones native where you live.

Plant	Type	States	Why it helps
American elderberry Sambucus canadensis	Shrub	44	Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	43	Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Serviceberry Amelanchier arborea	Tree	39	Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
White oak Quercus alba	Tree	37	Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Arrowwood viburnum Viburnum dentatum	Shrub	31	Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.
Flowering dogwood Cornus florida	Tree	30	Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Spicebush Lindera benzoin	Shrub	30	Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Bur oak Quercus macrocarpa	Tree	29	Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae	Perennial	29	Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Tall goldenrod Solidago altissima	Perennial	27	Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Your list covers 3 plant layers (shrub, tree, perennial). Layering matters: mixing shrub, tree, perennial gives American food, perches and cover at different heights. Leave seed heads and fruit standing into winter instead of cutting back in fall.

Offer the food it actually eats

Large insects and small rodents, taken from a perch or while hovering.

Warm months: Grasshoppers, crickets, beetles and voles
Cold months: Mice, voles and small birds
At feeders: None — hunts in open ground; a kestrel box is the draw

Feeder style matters as much as food: shallow bird bath (1–2 in deep) is the first choice for this bird. Perches on wires over short grass. A kestrel box on a pole or barn is often occupied within a season. Feeder guide →

Full seasonal diet →

Give it a place to nest

Natural site: Tree cavities, crevices and nest boxes in open country.

The American Kestrel uses nest boxes with a 3 in entrance, mounted 10–30 ft. Exact box dimensions →

Clutch: 3–7 eggs
Incubation: 26–32 days
Nestling period: 28–31 days
Broods per year: 1–2 per season

Timing shifts with latitude: nesting begins around February in Alabama but not until April in Yukon. Don't trim shrubs or clean boxes during those months.

Water, safety and patience

A shallow bath (1–2 in deep) with a rough bottom, refreshed every 2–3 days; a dripper or heater makes it far more attractive in summer heat and winter freeze.
Place feeders within 3 ft of windows or more than 30 ft away to cut window strikes, and keep cats indoors.
Skip pesticides — most backyard birds feed insects to their nestlings, even seed-eaters.
Give it time. New feeders and plantings can take days to weeks to be found; residents usually find a stocked yard first.

Frequently asked

What attracts American to a yard?

Food they actually eat (none — hunts in open ground; a kestrel box is the draw), native plants such as American elderberry, Black cherry, Serviceberry, clean water and suitable nesting cover: tree cavities, crevices and nest boxes in open country.

What plants attract American?

Across the American Kestrel's range, the native plants most often tied to it are American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), Black cherry (Prunus serotina), Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), White oak (Quercus alba), Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum). Choose the ones native to your state.

When should I set up my yard for nesting American?

Nesting starts around February in Alabama and as late as April in Yukon. Have cover, water and nest boxes ready a month before.

Sources

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.