Flora and fauna

Birds

The Common Kestrel

Common Kestrel hovering
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) in typical hovering pose (Photo: Glenys Norquay)

The Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), also known simply as the Eurasian Kestrel or just “Kestrel” in Europe and Britain, is one of the most familiar and widespread birds of prey across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Famous for its ability to hover motionless in mid-air while hunting, this elegant little falcon is a common sight over motorway verges, farmland, and city edges.Quick Facts

• Scientific Name: Falco tinnunculus
• Size: 31–38 cm (12–15 in) long
• Wingspan: 65–82 cm (26–32 in)
• Weight: Males 136–252 g; females 154–314 g (females noticeably larger)
• Lifespan: Up to 16 years in the wild (ringed birds)
• Other Names: Eurasian Kestrel, European Kestrel, Windhover (poetic), Killy Hawk
• Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN), but declining in some western European countries due to agricultural intensification

Appearance

Common Kestrels show clear sexual dimorphism:

• Males: Brick-red back with black spots, pale grey head and tail, grey tail with broad black terminal band and white tip, bold black moustachial stripe, yellow cere and feet.
• Females & juveniles: Brown head with dark streaking, brown back and wings heavily barred and spotted, rufous tail with numerous black bars.

Both sexes have the classic falcon shape: long pointed wings, long tail, and dark eyes that give them an intense expression.Male and female comparison
Male (left) with grey head and tail; female (right) all-brown plumage

Habitat and Range

One of the most widespread birds of prey in the world. Breeds across almost all of Europe (except Iceland and northern Scandinavia), Asia to Japan, and much of Africa. Many northern and eastern populations are migratory, wintering in southern Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, and southern Asia.Prefers open country:

• Farmland and meadows
• Grasslands and heathland
• Motorway embankments and railway lines
• Urban parks, quarries, and even city centres (increasingly in cities like London, Berlin, and Paris)

Diet and Hunting

A versatile predator with a very varied diet:

• Mainly small mammals (especially voles – up to 80% in some areas)
• Small birds, large insects (beetles, grasshoppers), lizards, earthworms, and occasionally bats

The Common Kestrel is the master of hover-hunting: it faces into the wind and beats its wings rapidly to stay in one spot 10–20 m above the ground, scanning for movement below before stooping sharply onto prey.Superpower: Like the American Kestrel, it can see ultraviolet light and uses vole urine trails (which reflect UV) to locate hunting hotspots.

Behaviour and Breeding

• Highly vocal – the characteristic “killy-killy-killy” call is often heard from perched birds or during territorial disputes.
• Does not build its own nest; uses old crow nests, tree cavities, ledges on buildings, cliffs, or specially provided nest boxes.
• Clutch: usually 4–5 eggs (sometimes 3–6), creamy-white with red-brown blotches.
• Incubation: 27–31 days, almost entirely by the female.
• Chicks fledge at 27–39 days but remain dependent on parents for several more weeks.

Conservation and How to Help

Although still common in many areas, the species has declined sharply in parts of western Europe (e.g., >50% loss in the UK since the 1970s) due to:

• Loss of rough grassland and field margins
• Intensive farming and pesticide use (reducing prey)
• Rodenticide poisoning

You can help by:

• Putting up a kestrel nest box (many designs available online)
• Supporting farmland bird initiatives and reduced pesticide use
• Driving carefully – road verges are important hunting areas

The Common Kestrel remains a symbol of wildness in our everyday landscapes – a small falcon that continues to thrive wherever there are open spaces and a good supply of voles. Look out for that unmistakable hover the next time you’re on a motorway or walking across farmland!