Falco tinnunculus - Common Kestrel
Feather characters. Barbules are very long (1.02-2.55 mm), entangled and divided into pigmented nodes and filamentous internodes. Occasionally some pigment may be found in the internodes. Slightly thickened nodes (10-22 per mm) are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules, only slightly decreasing in size towards distal end. Villi are absent and internodes are occasionally kinked. Minute prongs may be present along the entire length of barbules, on both sides of the pennulum. These prongs are unequally distributed, and sometimes prongs may be hard to find.
Field characters. Length 32-39 cm; wingspan 65-80 cm. Weight: male 186 g (117-259), female 217 g (137-299) (Dunning, 1993). Rather small falcon with long, pointed wings, long tail, and habitual hovering flight. Male has black-spotted chestnut upperparts and dark-streaked buff underparts. Head, rump, and tail grey; tail with broad black subterminal band and narrow white tip. In female upperparts are rufous brown barred black; flight feathers dark and tail barred along whole length; underparts darker and more streaked than male, with more barring on underwing. Perches on trees, poles, buildings, rocks, etc.; scans the ground for prey during stationary hovering flight.
Voice. Usual call near the nesting area is a shrill, high-pitched "kee-kee-kee-kee".
Distribution. Common resident and summer visitor. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Exploits a wide variety of habitats, ranging from cities with sufficient open space, well-timbered cultivated districts, moorland, heathland, grassland, savannah, parkland, grass-verged highways.
Food. Hunts for prey during characteristic hovering flight, searching for terrestrial animals. Feeds mainly on small mammals, especially voles and, to lesser extent, on birds.