American kestrel - male or female?



It is easy if we can see the grey or rufous colour on the wing. Rufous wing is the female's. Grey one, the male's. If not at sight there are other characteristics to tell them apart.
American Kestrel
04-05-19 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Male
American Kestrel
10-06-12 © Carlos González Ledo
Female

With the tail wide open the difference is remarkable. The female has a rufous tail with thin black bars. The male a plain rufous tail with a black subterminal band. The male also has two outer remiges with black bands. When the tail is closed these outer remiges hide the rest of the feathers giving a wrong impression that the tail is barred.
American Kestrel
17-03-12 © Pablo Serur
Male
American Kestrel
21-02-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Female

Another characteristic - the streaked rufous breast in the female and black dots mainly on the male's flanks.
American Kestrel
04-05-19 © Javier Guillermo González
Male
American Kestrel
21-02-14 © J. Simón Tagtachian
Female