Hi, Kestrel experts!
We have a kestrel pair that has been courting and doing all the "right stuff" for over a month, we thought as a prelude to egg laying. Both visit the box--the male with lizards to entice the female, and the female to do her "faceplant shuffle" as Delora so aptly calls it. But no eggs thus far.
I have been wondering how to tell if either of our pair is immature? Is there a way to tell kestrel age from plumage? Here is a photo of our female, impressively balancing in substantial wind to preen. Our male is decked out in his blue wing feathers. Are there some markings that would indicate egg-viable maturity?
Thanks for your insight!
--Laura
