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Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides) Alternate name(s): "Australian Kestrel", "Windhover", "Mosquito-hawk"; Misnomer: "Sparrowhawk*" Aboriginal name(s): Race "cenchroides": "martiet" (WA); "minmin" Size: 30-35 cm; wing span 60-80 cm Body mass: 120-255 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.27 (male), 0.30 (female)

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Nankeen Kestrels are small raptors. They are the smallest of the Australian falcons. Their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males and females are slightly different. Male Nankeen Kestrels have a grey head, brown mantle and wings, black wing tips and a creamy, faintly streaked brest to white belly and vent. Females have a brown cap and a more heavily streaked breast than males. They are only marginally larger than males. Both sexes have a dark stripe ("tear drop") under each eye. The eye-rings are yellow, the bill is grey, with a yellow cere. The lower legs and feet are yellow. The upper legs are covered by white feathers. Juvenile Nankeen Kestrels look like females, but with a more rufous tinge.

Taxonomy, classification See Nankeen Kestrel at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Nankeen Kestrel is available HERE . Nankeen Kestrels are found on New Guinea, New Caledonia and Australia, including Christmas Island, Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island. Nankeen Kestrels, race "cenchroides", inhabit the entire Australian continent. They are less common in Tasmania, where they are found only in the eastern half. Staying mostly in the south-eastern quarter of the Australian continent or the western coastal strip of WA during their breeding season, outside the breeding season they can venture into even the most arid parts of the interior. Nankeen Kestrels hunt in many different types of habitats (coastal and inland), except dense forest such as rainforest. They often hunt from medium-high perches, such as powerlines. Where to look? How to find this species? Nankeen Kestrels can be found most easily in two ways. They are one of a few species of raptor that will hover in a fixed position with slightly flapping wings to dive on prey on the ground. If a bird showing such behaviour has a mostly creamy front and brown mantle, it is most likely a Nankeen Kestrel. They also like to perch in exposed positions, in trees, e.g. in farmland with scattered trees or on power poles and powerlines, often near roadsides. Compared to Black-shouldered Kites, Nankeen Kestrels tend to prefer lower perches (e.g. also fenceposts and pickets).

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "cenchroides" Nankeen Kestrels, race "cenchroides", are widespread and a common sight in inland NSW. They were seen by us occasionally 20 km South of Narrabri, from 2003 to 2006. One even had its roost under the roof of a shed for a while. Nankeen Kestrels, race "cenchroides", can be found almost everywhere on the western side of the Great Dividing Range, wherever there are open areas close to suitable perches. They were also seen by us on a trip to outback NSW and South Australia in March 2008 and, again, in Outback Australia, in October 2010. Nankeen Kestrels, race "cenchroides", were also found by us in the hills of the Great Dividing Range and on the East coast of Australia and have been reported to us southward to as far as southern coastal areas of VIC. J. Greaves reports spotting a Nankeen Kestrel, race "cenchroides", in Broome, WA, in April 2015. M. Mackay reports that Nankeen Kestrels, race "cenchroides", are permanent residents in Coober Pedy, SA. P. Brown reports that a pair of Nankeen Kestrels, race "cenchroides", are permanent residents at Darwin Airport, Darwin, NT. M. Pears found a pair of Nankeen Kestrels, race "cenchroides", in Geraldton, WA, in May 2021. C. Pears reports finding the species at Mellenbye Station, ca. 50 km NE of Morawa, WA, in September 2022. Another was found at Cape Naturaliste, WA, in April 2025, and yet another at the Broome Bird Observatory, Broome, WA, in June 2025. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours reports that Nankeen Kestrels, race "cenchroides", are found regularly in various areas of tropical QLD, from Cairns to the Cape York peninsula. M. Eaton found a Nankeen Kestrels, race "cenchroides", in Erldunda, NT, in June 2025.

Photos

Race "cenchroides"

ADULT

PAIR

Many bird species exhibit sexual dimorphism, i.e., male and female have differing appearances which can be quite subtle.
In the case of the Nankeen Kestrel the difference lies in the colour of the cap; the male's is grey, the female's is brown.

Near-frontal/ventral view of a pair of Nankeen Kestrels, female on the left, male on the right
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2023]

Near-frontal/near-dorsal view of a air of Nankeen Kestrels high up in a dead tree
[Near Narrabri, NSW, August 2006]

Near-dorsal view of a pair of Nankeen Kestrels, female on the left (photo courtesy of E. Scott)
[Fairy Hill, northern NSW, June 2017]

MALE

Frontal view of an adult male Nankeen Kestrel; note the grey cap
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2008]

Close-up lateral view of a male Nankeen Kestrel
[Goran Lake, NSW, September 2022]

Lateral view of a male Nankeen Kestrel (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Near Narrabri, NSW, November 2020]

Lateral view of a male Nankeen Kestrel; here one can see that in males the uppertail is also grey
[Narrabri, NSW, July 2012]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a male Nankeen Kestrel
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, September 2006]

Frontal view of a male Nankeen Kestrel banking to land; note the - largely undocumented - dark alulas
(photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Near Narrabri, NSW, November 2020]

Lateral view of a male Nankeen Kestrel in flight
[Narrabri, NSW, July 2012]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a male Nankeen Kestrel taking off (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Yungaburra, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, June 2020]

Ventral view of a male Nankeen Kestrel in flight (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Cox Peninsula, NT, May 2021]

Ventral view of a male Nankeen Kestrel in flight
[Narrabri, NSW, July 2012]

Ventral view of a male Nankeen Kestrel in flight; note the - largely undocumented - dark alulas
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2026]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a resting female Nankeen Kestrel
[Goran Lake, near Gunnedah, NSW, April 2022]

Frontal view of a female Nankeen Kestrel (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Cox Peninsula, NT, May 2021]

Close-up frontal/ventral view of a female Nankeen Kestrel
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2022]

Near-frontal view of a female Nankeen Kestrel (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dundowran Beach, Hervey Bay, QLD, May 2018]

Close-up near-lateral view of a female Nankeen Kestrel (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Tinaroo, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, June 2020]

Near-lateral view of a wet female Nankeen Kestrel (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Musgrave, Cape York peninsula, QLD, September 2020]

Close-up lateral view of a female Nankeen Kestrel looking at the observer (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Tinaroo, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, June 2020]

Close-up lateral view of a female Nankeen Kestrel on a fence post looking towards the observer
[Harparary, NSW, July 2011]

Close-up lateral view of a female Nankeen Kestrel on a fence post
[Harparary, NSW, July 2011]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a female Nankeen Kestrel looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Tinaroo, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, June 2020]

Close-up dorsal view of a female Nankeen Kestrel looking back at the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2023]

Lateral/ventral view of a female Nankeen Kestrel in flight
[Near Bellata, NSW, September 2011]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a female Nankeen Kestrel in low flight (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Tinaroo, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, June 2020]

Dorsal view of a hovering Nankeen Kestrel (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, August 2015]

Ventral view of a female Nankeen Kestrel in flight (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Cox Peninsula, NT, May 2021]

Leucistic Nankeen Kestrel

Lateral view of a leucistic Nankeen Kestrel (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Mareeba, QLD, June 2024]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a juvenile Nankeen Kestrel hunting off a power line
[October 2011]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a juvenile Nankeen Kestrel
[Near Cryon, NSW, May 2022]

Road sign advising traffic to slow down because of Nankeen Kestrel traffic...
[Near Cryon, NSW, May 2022]

Ventral view of a juvenile Nankeen Kestrel
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2011]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Nov

Eggs: 3 - 4

Incubation period: 28 - 29 days

Fledging age: 28 - 31 days

Twitcher's tip

Note that, by the time they fledge (i.e., leave their nest), the young of all species of raptors - apart from the tail and wing feathers (which are still growing) - are already full adult-size.

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Tree hollow*

Material: Wood dust, gravel

Height above ground: 5 - 20 m

^* Nankeen Kestrels usually build nests in tree hollows, but will also re-use disused basket stick nests by other species. They are also known to nest in depressions in cliff hollows or on rock ledges.

To see a different kind of Falcon nesting in a River Red Gum, click HERE.

View from above into the nesting hollow of a pair of Nankeen Kestrels, with two near-fledging age chicks in it; note the remnants of a lizard and the otherwise clean gravel lining (photo courtesy of R. Brinsley)
[85 km West of Wentworth, NSW, 2007]

3 (of 4 in total) Nankeen Kestrel chicks sitting near the opening of their nest hollow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2025]

2 (of 4 in total) Nankeen Kestrel chicks sitting near the opening of their nest hollow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2025]

Two nosy little Nankeen Kestrels having a good look at the photographer; their nest is in a River Red Gum
[O'Brien's Creek, Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2011]

Frontal view of a male Nankeen Kestrel sitting in the opening of its nest hollow
[Harparary, NSW, October 2012]

Female Nankeen Kestrel looking into its nesting hollow (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Maules Creek, NSW, 2012]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 37 x 30 mm

Colour: Light-brown, heavily speckled with darker brown/black/reddish speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Clutch of 4 Nankeen Kestrel eggs in a re-used Chestnut-crowned Babblers' nest (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Inland NSW, 1980ies]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Pair

Birds, in particular raptors, that hover above their prey will always do so facing into the wind to get optimal air lift.

Like many other raptors, Nankeen Kestrels sometimes hunt hovering in updrafts on hill or mountain slopes. The photo below shows how the wings can be angled when there is too much air lift for a bird to fully extend them while maintaining position.

Nankeen Kestrels have been by us to hustle raptors as powerful as (and nesting in the same tree with) a Whistling Kite.

Spotted Harrier getting in the way of a Nankeen Kestrel
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2013]

For unknown reasons this female Nankeen Kestrel overpowered a Common Starling, but then released it again
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Benambra, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2017]

Nankeen Kestrel vs. juvenile Torresian Crow, in an argument over who was going to roost in a nearby tree; for audio click here
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2023]

Close-up frontal view of a female Nankeen Kestrel on its roost, after defending it against a juvenile Torresian Crow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2023]

Close-up frontal view of a female Nankeen Kestrel on its roost, after defending it against a juvenile Torresian Crow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2023]

Close-up near-lateral view of a female Nankeen Kestrel on its roost, after defending it against a juvenile Torresian Crow
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2023]

A few weeks later, a male Nankeen Kestrel was found roosting in the same tree
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2023]

Food, Diet

Adults: Small rodents, insects

Dependents: As adults

Water intake: None

All raptors are carnivores. Nankeen Kestrels prey on small rodents, such as mice, lizards and large insects, e.g. locusts.

During the first few weeks, raptors feed their chicks with pieces of meat. Later on in their development, the chicks learn to tear apart their parents' prey.

Male Nankeen Kestrel with a mouse it has just caught (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, June 2016]

Male Nankeen Kestrel with a substantial meal - a lizard whose tail is much longer than that of the kestrel
[Near Narrabri, NSW, September 2019]

Female Nankeen Kestrel diving into tall grass trying to make a catch (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, May 2015]

Lateral view of a Nankeen Kestrel plucking a Chestnut-breasted Mannikin; in a strange twist of fate, that same bird was photographed only moments earlier - the bird may not have been 100% fit because this is the only instance known to us in which a Nankeen Kestrel has taken a bird (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Mareeba, QLD, March 2024]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

nankest_20200216.m4a	cenchroides (NW NSW)	Contact calls (in-flight)	© MD
nankest_20140622.mp3	cenchroides (NW NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
nankest_20160910.mp3	cenchroides (NW NSW)	Contact calls (in-flight)	© MD
nankest_20170110_1.mp3	cenchroides (NW NSW)	Welcome/mating(?) call	© MD
nankest_20160126.mp3	cenchroides (NW NSW)	Upset (swooping Brown Goshawk)	© MD
nankest_20160126_2.mp3	cenchroides (NW NSW)	Upset ( Brown Goshawk)	© MD
nankest_20230130_2.mp3	cenchroides (NW NSW)	Upset (roost competition with Torresian Crow)	© MD

More Nankeen Kestrel sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.