Common Kestrel
Falco tinnunculus
Aves › Falconiformes › Falconidae › Falco
Conservation status: least_concern
The Common Kestrel is a small falcon easily identified by its rufous plumage, black spots, and distinctive blue-gray head and tail in males, while females are more uniformly brown. It's famous for hovering motionless in mid-air while hunting for small rodents and birds, a hunting technique that makes it unmistakable in flight.
How To Identify
It has rich, brown streaking on a pale belly and a characteristic dark head marking. The male and female are generally similar in appearance, making identification based on color alone difficult.
Habitat
The Common Kestrel lives in open farmland, motorway verges, and urban edges.
Behaviour
The Common Kestrel hovers facing into the wind and dives on small mammals.
Native Range
The common kestrel is widespread in Europe Asia and Africa and occasionally reaches the east coast of North America.
Did You Know?
Kestrels can see UV light and use it to track vole urine trails invisible to the human eye.
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