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6

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) Alternate name(s): "European Kestrel", "Eurasian Kestrel", "Old World Kestrel", "Kestrel" German name(s): "Turmfalke" Size: 32-39 cm; wing span 65-82 cm Weight: 136-252 g (male), 154-314 g (female)

Europe: Family Group 6 Family Group 6 Table Lammergeier Eurasian Black Vulture Griffon Vulture Rueppell's Vulture Egyptian Vulture Osprey White-tailed Eagle Golden Eagle Spanish Imperial Eagle Short-toed Snake Eagle Bonelli's Eagle Booted Eagle Red Kite Black Kite European Honey Buzzard Common Buzzard Rough-legged Buzzard Long-legged Buzzard Western Marsh Harrier Hen Harrier Montagu's Harrier Pallid Harrier Black-winged Kite Eurasian Sparrowhawk Gyrfalcon Peregrine Falcon Common Kestrel Merlin Eurasian Hobby Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Similar species

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description Common Kestrels are small birds of prey. Their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males and females are slightly different. Male Common Kestrels have a grey head (lores, crown, nape of the neck), while females have a brown head (only the areas under the eyes and the stripes behind the eyes are grey, as the males'). While male Common Kestrels have a grey rump and uppertail, with a black terminal band, females have a grey rump with a gradual change of the colour of the tail from grey at the rump to brown near the tip. The uppertail has fine bars, with a black subterminal band and a thin white terminal band. Both sexes have the "tear drop pattern" characteristic of many species of falcons. Morphological details depend on race. In general, Common Kestrels have a light-brown front with many dark spots. The wing coverts are brown to rich chestnut-brown, again with lots of dark spots. While the front of the body is spotted (see above), the underwings and undertail are patterned with many fine bars in various shades of grey and greyish-brown. The tail has a white terminal band and a black subterminal band.

Taxonomy, classification See Common 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 Common Kestrel is available HERE . There are many different races of Common Kestrels, which altogether have a wide-ranging distribution. Common Kestrels, nominate race "tinnunculus", are found throughout central and western Europe, south-eastern Europe, Turkey and the Middle East. Their range continues along scattered locations in central Asia. In East Asia race "interstinctus" is found. Race "rupicolaeformis" is found on the Arabian peninsula (and islands to the North), with the exception of the Red Sea coastline (which is part of the range of nominate race "tinnunculus"). For details on the distribution of other races see Wikipedia (or this range map) In Europe Common Kestrels, race "tinnunculus", are found as permanent residents in all of western, central and south-eastern Europe (including the British Isles and Denmark), up to a line from about the German/Polish border (Oder/Neisse) to the northern coastline of the Black Sea. From there they expand their breeding range in the summer into almost all of Scandinavia and of eastern eastern Europe, up to a geographical latitude of about 70 degrees. In their natural habitat, Common Kestrels roost and nest on rockfaces and in rock crevices. They have adapted well to the presence of humans and are also found in urban environments, under awnings and in open sheds or barns.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "tinnunculus" H. Dahlem-Senger reports spotting a Common Kestrel, nominate race "tinnunculus", roosting in a barn in the township of Eltville, Hessen, Germany, in the summer of 2016. At this location the species is seen regularly and a bird was found on the same roost by M. Thomas in August 2015. The species has been found in and around Eltville regularly since then. H. Dahlem-Senger also found a Common Kestrel, race "tinnunculus", near Oberkirch, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, in September 2020. D. Wilczynska reports spotting a Common Kestrel, race "tinnunculus", near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, in August 2018. J. Pires reports spotting Common Kestrels, race "tinnunculus", semi-regularly in the area from the Tejo estuary to Mora, Evora, and in other locations in southern/central Portugal. M. Eaton reports finding a Common Kestrel, race "tinnunculus", at Land's End and another near Padstow, Cornwall, England, in September 2019. A Common Kestrel, race "tinnunculus", was found by J. Pires at Pointe du Raz, Bretagne, France, in August 2020. G. Normand found a Common Kestrel, race "tinnunculus", at Pantin, Paris, Ile-de-France, France, in April 2021. In the past we used to see Common Kestrels, race "tinnunculus", semi-regularly in and around Wittlich, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. Race "rupicolaeformis" Common Kestrels, race "rupicolaeformis", were spotted by us in Oman.

Photos

Race "tinnunculus"

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male Common Kestrel; note the grey cap (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Castro Verde, Beja, Alentejo, Portugal, September 2020]

Frontal view of a male Common Kestrel (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2020]

Near-frontal view of a male Common Kestrel (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2018]

Lateral view of a male Common Kestrel (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, December 2019]

Lateral view of a male Common Kestrel (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2019]

Lateral view of a male Common Kestrel on a coastal rock (photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Pointe du Raz, Bretagne, France, August 2020]

Lateral/ventral view of a male Common Kestrel on a power pole (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, May 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a male Common Kestrel (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, October 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a male Common Kestrel (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, April 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a male Common Kestrel (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Near Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2021]

Frontal view of a male Common Kestrel standing in an updraught (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Land's End, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Frontal view of a hovering male Common Kestrel (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, August 2018]

Frontal view of a male Common Kestrel gliding to the next position to hover above its prey (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, August 2018]

Near-frontal view of a male Common Kestrel standing in an updraught (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Land's End, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Near-lateral view of a male Common Kestrel in flight (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Near Eltville, Hessen, Germany, May 2021]

Lateral view of a male Common Kestrel just off its perch (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Castro Verde, Beja, Alentejo, Portugal, September 2020]

Lateral view of a male Common Kestrel in flight, wings down (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, December 2017]

Lateral view of a male Common Kestrel standing in an updraught (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Land's End, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a male Common Kestrel in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Common Kestrel; note the brown cap (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2018]

Near-frontal view of a female Common Kestrel (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2019]

Lateral view of a female Common Kestrel (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Near Eltville, Hessen, Germany, April 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a female Common Kestrel (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Almograve, Odemira, Beja, Portugal, October 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a female Common Kestrel (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2020]

Frontal/ventral view of a female Common Kestrel in hovering flight (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Padstow, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Lateral/ventral view of a female Common Kestrel in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Murtosa, Aveiro, Portugal, November 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a female Common Kestrel in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2013]

PAIR

Frontal view of a pair of Common Kestrels; male on the right (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, May 2022]

Sex unknown

Dorsal/ventral view of a Common Kestrel in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Common Kestrel holding on to its prey, a locust (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil, Alentejo, Portugal, June 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Common Kestrel (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2013]

Lateral view of a juvenile Common Kestrel just after take-off (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2013]

Race "rupicolaeformis"

Common Kestrels, nominate race "rupicolaeformis", were photographed by us in Oman.

Breeding information

Breeding season: Apr - Aug?

Eggs: 3 - 7

Incubation period: 28 - 31 days

Fledging age: 28 - 35 days

Nest

Type: Hollow (Basket)

Material: Sticks

Height above ground: ?

Common Kestrels either nest in hollows, in trees or cavities in cliffs, or they repossess abandoned nests of corvids, such as e.g. Carrion Crows.

Male Common Kestrel inspecting an old Carrion Crow nest for its suitability (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Near Eltville, Hessen, Germany, March 2021]

Carrion Crow nest re-used by a pair of Common Kestrels (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Near Eltville, Hessen, Germany, March 2021]

Another female Common Kestrel on what looks like a recycled corvids' nest (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Near Eltville, Hessen, Germany, May 2021]

Eggs

Size: 41 x 34 mm

Colour: Creamy, with copious mid-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Predators are territorial birds who will defend their territory against intruders, in particular competitors for food.

Aerial combat between a female Common Kestrel, top, and a Black-winged Kite (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2019]

Food, Diet

Lateral/ventral view of a Common Kestrel with its prey, a mouse (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2018]

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.

kestrel_ls_20210130.m4a

tinnunculus (Germany)

? (+ Common Starling)

© LS

More Common 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.

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Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Tue, 29 November 2022, 3:43 +00:00