Common kestrel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Common kestrel
Adult male Falco tinnunculus tinnunculus
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Class:	Aves
Subclass:	Neornithes
Infraclass:	Neognathae
Superorder:	Neoaves
Order:	Falconiformes
Family:	Falconidae
Genus:	Falco
Binomial name
Falco tinnunculus Linnaeus, 1758
Western part of range of F. t. tinnunculus (also occurs in Siberia farther east) Yellow = breeding only, green = all-year

The common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It is also known as the 'European kestrel', 'Eurasian kestrel', or 'Old World kestrel'. In Britain, where no other brown falcon occurs, it is generally just called 'the kestrel'. The bird lives all over Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Description

Common kestrels are 32–39 cm (13–15 in) from head to tail. Their wings are 65–82 cm (26–32 in) when spread out. Females are larger. They are small compared with other birds of prey, but larger than most songbirds. Like the other Falco species, they have long wings and a long tail.

Their feathers are mainly light brown with black spots on the top and buff with narrow blackish streaks on the underside.

Food and feeding

When hunting, the common kestrel hovers about 10–20 m (c.30–70 ft) above the ground. common kestrels have very good eyesight. They can see small prey from a distance. Once they see the prey, the bird makes a short, steep dive. common kestrels eat nearly only mouse-sized mammals like voles. They also eat shrews and true mice. Small birds are also eaten, mostly in the summer when young birds are born. It also eats spiders and beetles when it finds them.

Images for kids

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  European pine vole (Microtus subterraneus), a typical common kestrel prey since prehistoric times

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  Male F. t. tinnunculus bringing food to nest

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  Female wintering in Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary (Andhra Pradesh, India)

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  F. t. canariensis on Gran Canaria

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  F. t. rupicolaeformis from Hurghada, Egypt

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  Falco tinnunculus alexandri - MHNT

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  Wooden common kestrel sculpture

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  Adult male F. t. tinnunculus landing

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  Young male F. t. tinnunculus during ringing

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  Female F. t. tinnunculus

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  F. t. tinnunculus at lake Neusiedl

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  F. t. tinnunculus Male in the wild

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  F. t. tinnunculus Female in the wild

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  Hovering tail feathers closed

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  Hovering tail feathers spread

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  Hovering

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  Skull

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  Egg of common kestrel

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  Falco tinnunculus alexandri - MHNT

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  Hatchling of common kestrel (note white down)

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  Fledglings in nest cavity

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  Immature after fledging

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  Common kestrel nest

See also

In Spanish: Cernícalo vulgar para niños