Common Kestrel

## Description

Common kestrels are widespread birds of prey; they are small compared with other raptors, but larger than most songbirds. Common kestrels are mainly light chestnut brown in color with blackish spots on the upperside and buff with narrow blackish streaks on the underside; the remiges are also blackish. The males have fewer black spots and streaks and their cap and tail are blue-grey. The tail is brown with black bars in females and has a black tip with a narrow white rim in both sexes. All Common kestrels have a prominent black malar stripe like their closest relatives. The cere, feet, and a narrow ring around the eye are bright yellow; the toenails, bill, and iris are dark. Juveniles look like adult females, but the underside streaks are wider; the yellow of their bare parts is paler.

## Distribution

Common kestrels are found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. These birds are sedentary but in the cold parts of their range, they migrate south in winter. Common kestrels live in open habitats such as tundra, taiga, grassland, shrubland, marshland, fields, and heaths. They can also be found in forested areas and readily adapt to human settlement, as long as sufficient swathes of vegetation are available. They also occur in wetlands, moorlands, arid savanna, and from the sea to the lower mountain range.

## Behavior

Common kestrels are usually seen alone but sometimes may travel in small flocks and nest in loose colonies. These birds hunt by day hovering about 10-20 m (35-65 ft) above the ground, searching for prey, either by flying into the wind or by soaring using ridge lift. Like most birds of prey, Common kestrels have keen eyesight enabling them to spot small prey from a distance. Once prey is sighted, the bird makes a short, steep dive toward the target. They often hunt along the sides of roads and motorways. Another favorite (but less conspicuous) hunting technique is to perch a bit above the ground cover, surveying the area. When the bird spots prey animals moving by, it will pounce on them. They also prowl a patch of hunting ground in a ground-hugging flight, ambushing prey as they happen across it. Common kestrels communicate with each other using various calls. When alarmed they utter 'kii-kii-kiikii' and in flight, the birds produce a 'kik-kik' call.

## Diet

Common kestrels are carnivores and eat almost exclusively small mammals such as voles, shrews, and true mice. They will also hunt birds, bats, swifts, frogs, lizards, and insects.

## Reproduction

Common kestrels are monogamous and form long-lasting pair bonds. They start breeding in April or May in temperate Eurasia and between August and December in the tropics and southern Africa. Common kestrels nest in cavities, preferring holes in cliffs, trees, or buildings; in built-up areas, the birds will often nest on buildings and will reuse the old nests of other birds. Common kestrels are usually solitary nesters but may sometimes nest in loose colonies. The female lays a clutch of 3 to 7 eggs. Incubation lasts around 4 weeks, and only the female incubates the eggs. The male is responsible for providing her with food, and for some time after hatching this remains the same. Later, both parents share brooding and hunting duties until the young fledge, after 4-5 weeks. The family stays close together for a few weeks, during which time the young learn how to fend for themselves and hunt prey. They become reproductively mature and are ready to breed for the first time by the next breeding season.

## Population

### Threats

In the mid-20th century populations of Common kestrels declined due to heavy use of organochlorine and other pesticides. At present, these birds of prey are not considered globally threatened, however, in some areas they still suffer from pesticides as well as from habitat degradation and decline of their primary small mammal prey.

### Number

According to the IUCN Red List, the total Common kestrels' population size is around 4,300,000-6,700,000 mature individuals. The European population consists of 411,000-631,000 pairs, which equates to 823,000-1,270,000 mature individuals Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.

### Ecological niche

Common kestrels play a very important role in their ecosystem; these birds help control agricultural pests such as voles and mice as they make up the biggest part of their diet.

## Fun Facts

The name "kestrel" is derived from the French crécerelle which is diminutive for crécelle, which also referred to a bell used by lepers. This word first appeared in 1678 in the work of Francis Willughby. The kestrel was once used to drive and keep away pigeons.

One of the Archaic names for the kestrel includes 'windhover' due to the bird's habit of beating the wind (hovering in air).

Common kestrels are able to see in ultraviolet light; this helps the birds to detect the urine trails around rodent burrows as they shine in an ultraviolet color in the sunlight.

Common kestrels require around 4 to 8 voles a day. If they catch more voles than they need, they will cache some for later consumption.

The kestrel is sometimes seen as a symbol of the power and vitality of nature.