Gene Hunn:
>Also found two female Kestrels in
>one clear cut area( about one mile apart). Would this indicate two pairs
>in the area or would it be more likely to be young of the year?

If you can get a good look at a female kestrel's tail when it's
spread out, you can age it: kids have the subterminal band no
wider than the other bands (except the central two feathers, which
is why it helps to have it spread, as in hovering flight or
preening). This is only good 'til Sept 1, however, according
to standard banding keys - some kids (both sexes) molt their
tail in the fall, apparently.

First year males are streaked on the breast and this is
usually pretty noticable, though by fall some have begun
to molt their breast feathers and have no streaking
on the chest, which can be clear and chestnut like an
adult in the very center. Caught one with a band on
it last year that had just a little bit of streaking that
looked almost like spotting on the sides of the breast,
and learned later that it had been banded that spring
in central Idaho.

Adult males may have spots, but the spotted feathers look
different than those that cause the streaked look.
In flight, though, I only trust myself to age those which
are clearly streaked or clearly clear of streaks/spots
as during migration you rarely have time to make a
lenghty examination.

Now, go back to your clearcut and answer your own question :)

- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>