Why are female American Kestrels preferred over males?

The answer reflects the nuanced understanding of preferences in falconry related to the characteristics of both male and female American Kestrels. In falconry, while there may be instances where individual preference plays a role in selecting a bird, generally, females are not universally preferred for specific reasons such as ease of training, handling particular prey, or hunting ability.

Female American Kestrels are often larger than their male counterparts, and in some cases, they may exhibit greater strength or endurance, which could be beneficial in certain hunting scenarios. However, they may also display more aggressive or independent behaviors that can complicate training processes compared to males. Additionally, while females may excel at hunting larger prey due to their size, both sexes are capable hunters, and their effectiveness can depend on the individual bird and the situation rather than gender alone.

Thus, the answer reflects the understanding that while personal falconry experience can inform individual preferences, there is no definitive reason that universally justifies a preference for females over males across all contexts in falconry.