Haggard Kestrels

[demarest]

Could someone tell me the easiest way to ID a haggard kes as opposed to a passage? Also, what are the differences and advantages each has over the other concerning use as a hunting hawk?

-R. Demarest

[Minca]

There's no real surefire way, that's why falconers are allowed to trap hag kestrels. Generally, a passage will have more vertical streaking on the chest, and a hag will be more spotted. Passages usually have some white behind the second set of malar stripes that are supposed to make them look like they have eyes in the back of their head, that white goes away with the molt. Passages generally have narrower subterminal bands on their tails. None of these are hard set rules on their own. Hags can have some passage marking and vise-versa. Your best bet would be to find a place where they're high in numbers and keep trapping and releasing until you've seen quite a few up close and come to recognise the differences.
As for a hunting hawk, they have similar things to look for just like in a RT. Big feet/small feet, attitude coming off the trap, battle scars on gamey birds and clean feet on cricket hunters. Hags will take a little longer to man down, but will likely have alot more hunting confidence right off the creance. People will try to tell you that a male can't carry as easily, BS! Anti-carrying is the main concern with ALL kestrels. A little more with hags. They hate being on the ground. I lost my last kestrel when he was on the ground with a sparrow and a RT came overhead. He carried the sparrow into a tree, and I spent hours and days trying to get him back to no avail. Once they already have their meal, they feel no reason to carry it down to a lure on the ground like a HH. Jonathan Millican would be a good one to talk to about working around the carrying with a kestrel. He's got a great technique, it just takes some patience.
If you haven't read Matt Mullenix's book yet, you should. It's cheap and I've seen it in some of the best falconers libraries.
There's also a Yahoo Group, Kestrelfans, and it's a great resource.