A series highlighting some of the wildlife of the Gettysburg Battlefield photographed there by the webmaster.
Offering a variety of habitat ranging from mature forest to open pasture, the Gettysburg National Military Park is home to many species of animals including amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds. This post focuses on the park’s American Kestrels.
The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) is a very colorful small falcon that is quite common. They sometimes engage in “hover-hunting” — the bird hovers, then drops on prey. Kestrels eat mainly small rodents on the battlefield.
Best Places to See Them: Kestrels can be found all over the battlefield, but are most common along fence lines and in open fields. This American Kestrel male was photographed sitting on top of the 153rd Pennsylvania Monument on Barlow’s Knoll.
