Common Kestrel Identification

The Common Kestrel is about the size of a sparrowhawk.

The upper body is chestnut-brown with black speckles.

The underside is white with black spots.

Its eyes are black.

Its beak is hooked and sharp, for tearing its prey.

The male has a gray-blue head and tail.

The female has uniform chestnut-brown plumage.

In flight, its wings are pointed and its tail is long and narrow.

The tail ends with a black band on the feathers.

The Common Kestrel repeatedly emits a shrill cry 'ki-ki-ki-ki-ki', sometimes very sharp and rapid, resembling the sound of a rattle.

The Common Kestrel hunts by hovering in flight, watching the ground...

Capable of seeing ultraviolet light, it can spot voles by their urine trails, even under the snow.

Upon spotting prey from above, it dives silently and grabs it with its talons.

It can also hunt from a perch.

The breeding season of the Common Kestrel spans from March to July.

It lays one clutch per year of 4 to 6 pale yellow or brown eggs, speckled with dark.

It nests in trees, buildings, cliffs, abandoned nests of magpies or crows, or in nest boxes.

Its nest is made of twigs, grass, moss, and soil.

The Common Kestrel feeds on small rodents and small mammals...

The Common Kestrel lives in open landscapes, often in cultivated areas. It can be found in high mountains, alpine pastures, or even in cities.

Depending on the region, it can be sedentary or a migratory bird of short to long distance.

In gardens, the Common Kestrel may take up residence in nest boxes.