The American Kestrel hunts in the same way other falcons do. They spot their prey and swoop down on them off the ground. Some of them are able to snatch their prey out of mid air as well. Because of their slight stature, they pump their tails when perched to keep their balance.
One fact about the American Kestrel is because of their size, they end up being food for some of their own species and birds like Cooper’s Hawks and Red-tailed Hawks.

Gyrfalcon

The Gyrfalcon is the largest falcon of all. The have large wings and a body that is strong and powerful. This is even more evident in the females which are much larger than males. These birds have a beautiful color pattern and it’s almost ghostly. This white bird with black spotting blends in with it’s surroundings as it’s native to the arctic. They’ll fly south for the winter but only as far south as the northern section of the United States.

The Gyrfalcon primarily eats Willow Ptarmigan and Rock Ptarmigan. However, these masters of the sky have also been known to feed on other birds like shorebirds, waterfowl, songbirds and pheasants. Even Owls, falcons and ravens aren’t safe from the Gyrfalcon. They aren’t known for snatching their prey out of the air, but they’ll grasp their prey and drive them into the ground.

Peregrine Falcon

Of all falcon tattoos, you will probably notice one of the most well-known species tattooed. This is the Peregrine Falcon. This majestic bird is one of the largest falcons of its species. They have long pointed wings and a long tail as well. The Peregrine Falcon usually eats other birds and they are not picky when they hunt. The Peregrine Falcon has been known to eat up to 450 different North American bird species. Because of their wits and agility, they can snatch a hummingbird out of mid air and take down a bird as big as a Sandhill Crane. They’ll even steal food from other raptors including rodents and fish.