Kestrel Bird Facts (Falco tinnunculus)

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Kestrel is a small, compact falcon with pointed wings and a long tail. Males have a striking blue-grey head and tail, with a rufous-brown back and black wing tips. The underparts are pale with dark spotting.

Females are predominantly brown, with dark barring across the back, wings, and tail. Both sexes have distinctive black 'moustache' markings, yellow legs and feet, ceres (bill base), and eye rings.

Juveniles are similar to adult females but have paler legs and bills and more prominent streaking below.

Size

Length

32cm to 39cm

Wingspan

65cm to 82cm

Weight

136g to 252g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Brown Grey

Secondary Colour

Black White

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Yellow

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown

Secondary Colour (Female)

Black

Beak Colour (Female)

Grey

Leg Colour (Female)

Yellow

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Kestrel can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Kestrel is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Kestrel is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Kestrel is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Kestrel can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Kestrel can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Kestrel can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Kestrel is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Kestrel is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Kestrel is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Kestrel is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Kestrel is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Kestrels inhabit many open habitats, including farmland, grasslands, heathland, and urban areas. They are found across Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. In the UK, they are widespread and can be seen year-round.

Some northern populations migrate south for winter, while those in temperate regions tend to be resident. Kestrels have adapted well to human-altered landscapes, often nesting in buildings and hunting along roadsides.

Elevation Range

Up to 3,500 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical, Tropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Kestrel. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Algeria Andorra Angola Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Belgium Benin Botswana Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Congo Côte D'Ivoire Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Egypt Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Finland France Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Guinea Guinea-Bissau Hong Kong Hungary Iran Iraq Ireland Italy Jordan Kenya Kuwait Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Macedonia Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Mauritania Moldova Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Netherlands Niger Nigeria Oman Palestine Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Rwanda Saudi Arabia Senegal Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Somalia South Africa South Sudan Spain Sudan Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tanzania Thailand The United Kingdom Togo Tunisia Turkey Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Afghanistan Albania Belarus Bhutan Bosnia and Herzegovina China Faroe Islands India Israel Japan Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Mongolia Montenegro Nepal North Korea Norway Pakistan Russia Serbia South Korea Sri Lanka Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Vietnam Western Sahara

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Spain

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Bermuda Brazil Brunei Canada French Guiana Greenland Iceland Indonesia Martinique Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands United States of America

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 90

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Kestrel's remarkable hovering ability and swift, precise movements when hunting demonstrate exceptional agility. Their capacity to remain suspended in mid-air whilst scanning for prey, followed by rapid dives, showcases their extraordinary aerial prowess.

Strength 65

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Whilst not the strongest raptor, Kestrels possess sufficient strength to capture and carry small mammals and birds. Their ability to hover against winds and make swift diving attacks indicates moderate strength for their size.

Adaptability 85

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Kestrels exhibit high adaptability, thriving in diverse habitats from rural farmlands to urban environments. Their successful colonisation of human-altered landscapes and ability to nest in various structures, including buildings, demonstrates their adaptable nature.

Aggressiveness 70

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Kestrels display moderate aggressiveness, particularly during breeding season and when defending territory. Their solitary hunting behaviour and willingness to nest in loose colonies suggest a balanced temperament, neither overly aggressive nor docile.

Endurance 75

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The Kestrel's ability to hover for extended periods whilst hunting, coupled with their partial migratory behaviour in some populations, indicates good endurance. Their capacity to hunt actively throughout the day further supports their stamina, though they are not known for extremely long-distance flights.

Diet

Kestrels primarily feed on small mammals, particularly voles and mice. They also consume large insects, small birds, and occasionally reptiles.

Their keen eyesight allows them to spot prey from a considerable distance, often catching it with a swift dive from their hovering position.

Behaviour

Kestrels are known for their distinctive hovering flight. Its most distinctive behaviour is the ability to hover in a fixed position on rapidly beating wings, with its head remaining unerringly still, or remain motionless on an updraught while scanning the ground for prey. It drops vertically onto prey, which is then usually carried away to be eaten on a perch

Kestrels frequently perch on posts, wires, or tree branches, bobbing their tails while surveying their surroundings. They are solitary hunters but may form loose colonies during breeding season.

Vocalisation

Although generally silent birds, Kestrels have a distinctive, high-pitched call often described as a repeated 'kee-kee-kee' or 'killy-killy-killy'. This vocalisation is commonly heard during territorial disputes or when alarmed.

During courtship, males may produce a softer, chattering sound to attract females. Adults also call to maintain contact with their partners and their young.

Nesting & Breeding

Kestrels typically breed from April to July. They do not build their own nests but instead use existing cavities in trees, cliffs, or buildings. In urban areas, they may nest in specially designed boxes.

Females lay 3-6 eggs, which are creamy-white with reddish-brown spots. The eggs are incubated primarily by the female for about 28 days.

Both parents care for the chicks, which fledge after 27-35 days but remain dependent on their parents for several weeks afterwards.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

While listed as Least Concern globally, Kestrel populations have declined in parts of Europe due to agricultural intensification and habitat loss.

Conservation efforts focus on maintaining suitable hunting grounds and providing nesting boxes in areas where natural sites are scarce.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

4,300,000 - 6,700,000 mature individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

Look for Kestrels hovering over open fields or grasslands
Check telephone poles and wires in rural areas for perched birds
Listen for their high-pitched 'kee-kee-kee' call
In the UK, watch for them along country lanes, motorways and in urban areas
Use binoculars to spot their distinctive facial markings
Perched kestrels have a noticeably upright posture. When in direct flight, the kestrel’s wingbeats are fast and shallow with a few glides.

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Common Kestrel, European Kestrel

Family:

Falconidae

Average Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Predators

Adult Kestrels face threats from larger raptors such as Goshawks and Peregrine Falcons. Eggs and nestlings are vulnerable to corvids, squirrels, and climbing mammals.

Did You Know?

Kestrels can see near-ultraviolet light, helping them track vole urine trails.
Kestrels have remarkable eyesight that may be as much as eight times stronger than ours. These birds can spot prey from about 50 meters away, more than twice the length of a tennis court.
They have been known to cache surplus food for later consumption.
In medieval times, lower-ranking individuals sometimes used Kestrels in falconry.
The kestrel is also known as the Windhover due to its mastery of flight and ability to hover, an aspect that is celebrated by Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poem of the same name. “High there, how he rung upon the rein of a wimpling wing”.

FAQs

How fast can Kestrels fly?

Kestrels are better known for their deft hovering abilities than their speed, despite belonging to the fastest bird family on Earth.

Data is lacking on Eurasian Kestrel flight speeds, although migrating Lesser Kestrels can fly at 31 miles per hour (50km/h) in level flight, and the American Kestrel is said to reach 39 miles per hour (63 km/h).

Are Kestrels the smallest bird of prey in the UK?

The Kestrel is one of the smallest birds of prey in the United Kingdom, but the true honour goes to the Merlin, another small raptor from the falcon family. If you consider owls birds of prey, the introduced Little Owl trumps them both with a maximum weight of just 206 grams.