A male American Kestrel pauses in the Santa Cruz Flats, in Pinal County, Arizona, a place where many raptor species winter.
At only 10.5 inches long, American Kestrel is North America’s smallest bird of prey. It can become prey for larger birds, as well as rat snakes, corn snakes, and even fire ants.
Photo by spiecks
Originally PublishedDustin Huntington’s close-up of a Calliope Hummingbird with hitchhiking ants wins the top prize in our contest.
John Economaki’s breathtaking photo of an adult Least Tern and its chick won second place.
Derrick Z. Jackson’s image of Atlantic Puffins on Eastern Egg Rock, Maine, is a testament to the conservation success for this beloved seabird.
