Chuck Ripper: American Kestrel

Artist: Chuck Ripper
1929 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1991
Image Size: 7.5 by 8.75 inches
Overall Size: 11.5 by 12.75 inches
Medium: Gouche Water Color on Masonite

From the deserts of the Southwest to the lush Florida marshlands, the American kestrel's range is broader than that of any other American bird of prey. The American kestrel hunts the stunted forests of Alaska's high Arctic, the cotton fields of Georgia and the rolling prairie of South Dakota. The kestrel is an opportunist and this is one of the reasons it has such a vast territory. In Alaska, the little raptor might prey upon voles and gophers; the same species in Kansas might subsist almost exclusively on songbirds and grasshoppers. The smallest of the falcons with a wing span of less than two feet, the kestrel is well known for its habit of hovering while hunting. Wind currents help the kestrel to stay in roughly the same location as it faces into the wind, with only the slightest wing movement needed to adjust the height. If a future meal is spotted, the kestrel will swoop and pounce with amazing swiftness. The kestrel also hunts by sitting quietly on a convenient telephone pole or tree. The kestrel nests in cavities such as hollow trees, old outbuildings and earth banks. The male kestrel is one of the more colorful of the birds of prey, with its russet and gray cap, back and wings. For this reason and because it is rather common, the American kestrel is a favorite among bird watchers and falconers.

This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood® First Day Cover of the Flora and Fauna Series 1¢ American Kestrel stamp issued June 22, 1991.

Artwork Copyright © 1991 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB13225

US$ Price: $2,700.00

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