Fox kestrel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fox kestrel |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Falco
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| Species: |
alopex
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The fox kestrel (Falco alopex) is a cool bird of prey. It belongs to the falcon family, known as Falconidae. You can find this bird in dry, open areas in the northern part of Sub-Saharan Africa.
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What Does the Fox Kestrel Look Like?
The fox kestrel is a large, slender bird. It has long, narrow wings and a long tail. It measures about 32 to 38 cm (12.5 to 15 inches) long. Its wingspan is about 76 to 88 cm (30 to 35 inches). This bird weighs between 250 and 300 grams (8.8 to 10.6 ounces). Female kestrels are slightly larger than males.
Their feathers are a dark reddish-brown color. They have black streaks on both their upper and lower bodies. The tail has thin black stripes. The wing feathers are dark and do not have stripes. The underside of their wings is pale. This color stands out against their darker body.
The fox kestrel has yellow-brown eyes. A similar bird, the greater kestrel, has whitish eyes. The greater kestrel also has paler feathers. Its wing feathers are striped, and it has grey on its tail.
Young fox kestrels have more streaks than adult birds. Their tails also have clearer stripes. This bird makes a high, screeching sound. However, it is usually quiet when it's not breeding.
Where Do Fox Kestrels Live?
Fox kestrels breed in the savanna region. This area is south of the Sahara desert. Their breeding range stretches from Mali in the west. It goes east to Ethiopia and north-west Kenya. Sometimes, they fly west to Senegal, the Gambia, and Guinea. They can also go south to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Most fox kestrels stay in one place. But some birds move north during the wet season. They move south when the dry season arrives. You often find them near cliffs and rocky hills. They live from sea level up to 2200 meters (7200 feet). They are most common below 1000 meters (3300 feet).
This bird has a very large home range. It covers about 4 million square kilometers (1.5 million square miles). Even with such a big area, they are not very common. Their total population is likely less than 100,000 pairs.
How Do Fox Kestrels Behave?
The fox kestrel rarely hovers in the air. Instead, it prefers to hunt from a high spot. It will sit on a tree branch or a rock. This bird eats insects, lizards, and small mammals. It usually catches its food on the ground. It also hunts for flying insects. These insects often try to escape from grass fires.
Fox Kestrel Reproduction
Not much is known about how fox kestrels raise their young. They build their nests in holes or cracks in cliffs. They might also use a ledge. They do not use any nesting materials. It is believed that they lay two or three eggs. Sometimes, these birds breed in small groups. These groups can have up to 20 pairs nesting close together.
