Alaska · Summer breeder

American Kestrels in Alaska

When American are present in Alaska, when they nest, which native Alaska plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 1a–8a yard.

Falcons (Falconidae)American KestrelFalco sparverius

Status in Alaska: Summer breeder
Nesting window: April–June
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 1a–8a
Nest box: 3 in hole, 8 × 8 in floor, 10–30 ft

When to expect American in Alaska

American Kestrels are summer residents in Alaska, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent.

Subarctic interior, temperate rainforest in the Southeast panhandle, and Arctic tundra on the North Slope.

Nesting in Alaska

Across Alaska, American typically nest from April–June. Plan around that window: March for setup, June for clean-out.

A short, explosive summer with near-continuous daylight compresses nesting into a few weeks.

Have boxes cleaned and mounted before March — American begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
Use a 3 in entrance on a 8 × 8 in floor, mounted 10–30 ft.
Fit a pole baffle or hole guard; ventilation gaps and drainage holes are essential.
Clean out old nests after each brood and again after June.

Native Alaska plants that attract American

Of the regional native plants we track for Alaska, these 5 provide food or cover American use:

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

White spruce

Picea glauca · Tree

Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.

Tamarack

Larix laricina · Tree

Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.

Willow (Bebb)

Salix bebbiana · Shrub

Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.

Dwarf birch

Betula glandulosa · Shrub

Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.

Feeding American through the Alaska year

Top foods: None — hunts in open ground; a kestrel box is the draw.
In Alaska's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for American · Best feeder for American

Frequently asked

Are American in Alaska year-round?

No. American Kestrels are summer breeders in Alaska and leave for the winter.

When do American nest in Alaska?

Nesting in Alaska typically runs April–June, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 3–7 eggs, incubated for 26–32 days.

What native plants attract American in Alaska?

Paper birch, White spruce, Tamarack, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch are native plants in Alaska that provide food or cover for American.

What size birdhouse hole do American need?

3 in, with a floor of 8 × 8 in mounted 10–30 ft.

Other backyard birds in Alaska

Black-capped Chickadee Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Red-winged Blackbird Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler American Tree Sparrow Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Chestnut-backed Chickadee Rufous Hummingbird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Varied Thrush Violet-green Swallow Common Raven Sharp-shinned Hawk Great Horned Owl Mallard Belted Kingfisher Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Orange-crowned Warbler Palm Warbler Warbling Vireo Least Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Black-backed Woodpecker American Three-toed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Bohemian Waxwing Rusty Blackbird Rock Pigeon

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.