American Kestrel: Cinnamon

Quick Facts: Hatch year unknown Weight: 4.25 oz Found in Amery, Wis., in 1998 Hit unknown object Un-releasable due to right wing injury Female Limited flight

Cinnamon’s story:

On August 28, 1998, an adult American kestrel was admitted into The Raptor Center with a right wing injury that rendered her unable to fly. It is unknown how she was injured. After two months, it became apparent that the fracture affecting her right elbow joint had permanently limited her flight, and thus she would likely be unsuccessful at hunting if released back into the wild. Thus, Cinnamon joined The Raptor Center’s education department. The name “Cinnamon” refers to the coloration that females of this species present. Male American kestrels, such as Jack and Baron, have a slate-blue color to their wings and black spotted chests, but females lack the blue on the wings and have a cream-colored chest with reddish-brown speckles—looking as though it has been sprinkled with cinnamon.