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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. They will also use suitable man-made structures.
Female Common Kestrel, centre, with two near-fledging age chicks
at the entrance to their nest hollow
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Near Eltville, Hessen, Germany, July 2023]
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
.