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Common KestrelAlternate name(s): "European Kestrel", "Eurasian Kestrel", "Old World Kestrel", "Kestrel" ![]() Size: 32-39 cm; wing span 65-82 cm Weight: 136-252 g (male), 154-314 g (female) |
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Photos |
Race "tinnunculus"
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ADULT |
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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.
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: Apr - Aug? | Eggs: 3 - 7 | Incubation period: 28 - 31 days | Fledging age: 28 - 35 days |
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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]
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Eggs |
Size: 41 x 34 mm | Colour: Creamy, with copious mid-brown speckles | Shape: Tapered oval |
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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]
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Food, Diet |
Lateral/ventral view of a Common Kestrel with its prey, a mouse
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2018]
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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
.