Which statement is true regarding the relationship between the American kestrel and the European Sparrowhawk?

The statement that the American kestrel and the European Sparrowhawk are actually not closely related is accurate. Despite both being birds of prey and possessing some overlapping characteristics, they belong to different taxonomic families. The American kestrel is classified under the family Falconidae, while the European Sparrowhawk is part of the family Accipitridae. This classification signifies that they have significant differences in their evolutionary lineage and specific morphological traits.

The distinction in their families indicates that while they may share some ecological niches or behaviors due to convergent evolution, their genetic lineage diverges significantly. Additionally, they exhibit different hunting techniques, physical attributes, and geographic distributions, further supporting the idea that they are not closely related despite surface-level similarities as birds of prey.