The Kestrel (Falco Tinnunculus)
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Family: Falconidae
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Habitat: Kestrels can be found in almost any habitat that holds sufficient prey, this includes urban and sub-urban areas, parkland, open moorland with trees and crags, upland grassland, young woodlands, heaths, wetlands (with trees) and farmland.
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Diet: The diet is varied and opportunistic; consisting of mainly
small mammals but also reptiles, insects and birds
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Predators: Chicks are susceptible to predation from
other birds of prey
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Biometrics: Between 27-35cm long, with a wingspan of 57-79cm. Males weigh around 136 – 252g with the female’s weight varying from 154 - 314g, making the female on occasions slightly heavier due to them being a little larger in size.
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Features: Adults can be sexed apart by the colours on their plumage, adult males have a distinctive spotted chestnut back with a blue-grey head and tail; whereas the females are predominantly brown all over (N.B juveniles cannot be easily distinguished in the field from adult females)
Kestrels can easily be identified by both their call a high-pitched shrill sounding like a bell ringing, and also when hunting prey as they will often ‘hover’ on the spot before dropping down onto their prey.
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Field Signs: Physical characteristics such as its narrow-pointed tail and wings help to identify them out in the field, along with the ability to ‘hover’ on the wind when hunting. Often Kestrels can be seen sat on high vantage points such as dead trees which are used as a ‘look out’ station when hunting.
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Breeding & Resting Places: Out of the breeding season Kestrels will often roost in trees or buildings such as barns. During the breeding season they can nest in a variety of locations including rock ledges, crags, buildings, old corvid nests but more commonly are found in tree cavities and artificial nest boxes. Kestrels do not build a nest, instead they will scrape a depression in the nest substrate.
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Breeding cycle of a Kestrel: Courtship occurs from March – May where the male and female can be seen together displaying and showing increased territorial behaviour within a suitable nesting habitat. Egg laying occurs in late March to early June (peak period being late April – mid-May) with incubation taking on average 28 days. Chicks will remain in the nest until around 32 days when they will then fledge but will still be dependent on their parents for food initially before beginning to hunt for themselves.