European Kestrel

Falco Tinnunculus 

Distributions:  Palearctic, Afrotropical and Indomalayan. Britain, Europe, China, Southwest Asia, Nepal and Bhutan and North Africa, except Egypt. 

Habitat: This species can inhabit a wide variety of different environments, from Steppe, semi-desert and even tundra. The kestrel is also frequently seen in both high and lowland regions, but also open grasslands, young plantations and air-fields, as well as towns, cities, park, pasture, farm and wetland areas. 

Food: Small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, earthworms and even amphibians are predated upon. 

Facts: 

• Can often be observed hovering alongside roadside verges and grassy banks in search of prey.
• Despite this species small size they are an aggressive and dashing flier, often mobbing far larger birds of prey, such as peregrine falcons, marsh owls and even golden eagles, they stray into their territory.
• This species is generally solitary but can often be seen in pairs
• A very adaptable nester, utilizing a wide variety of different nesting sites, which includes hollows and forks in trees, cliff ledges and quarry walls, along with buildings and will also use old bird nests.
• The average number of eggs in a clutch is 3-6 but 1-9 eggs have also been recorded.
• Stunning aerial displays during the courtship are commonly seen by this species, single to mutual high soaring flight, interspersed with fast, agile stoops, rolls and other aerobatics. These small falcons are also very vocal during courtship.
• While hunting, they kestrel will often hover up high using its ability to seein the full ultra-violet light spectrum to locate its prey in long grass by tracking many different mammal species by their urine (which is bright yellow under UV) trail before stooping down and hovering at a lower altitude and from this lower height they are looking for the tell-tale movement in the grass that indicates the prey location.
• The kestrel will forage from the soar as well as still-hunting from a prominent perch, usually a suitable vantage point where they can spot prey but can also watch out for other predators.
• Will also steal food from other birds of prey, including the short-eared owl, which incidentally can be found in many of the same areas, is active by day and feeds upon the same prey type.