March 30, 2008 Carolina Raptor Center Charlotte, NC - The widespread American kestrel is the smallest North American falcon and one of our most common and colorful raptors. It is one of the few raptors with different color plumages in males and females. The back of the female's wings and tail are rusty brown with fine dark barring. The male's wings are blue gray and the tail is red with a wide dark subterminal band and a white tip. Both sexes have two dark mustache marks (malar stripe) and markings on the back of the head, which gives the appearance of two dark eyes (called ocelli) and a beak. Immatures have a lot of barring on their back and more streaking and buffy on chest.