Prakruti Parichay
FalconidaeFalco

Common Kestrel

Falco tinnunculus

32–35 cmMedium
Beak
—
Feet
—
Crest
No crest

Resident in mountains of Pakistan, Himalayas and Western Ghats and Sri Lanka; widespread winter visitor. Long, rather broad tail; wing-tips more rounded than on most falcons. Frequently hovers. Male has greyish head with diffuse dark moustachial stripe, rufous upperparts heavily marked with black, and grey tail with black subterminal band. Female and juvenile have rufous crown and nape streaked with black. diffuse and narrow dark moustachial stripe. rufous upperparts heavily barred and spotted with black, and dark barring on rufous tail; underwing more heavily barred than male ' s. Usually found singly or in pairs. Characteristically hovers in open country with rapidly beating wings and fanned tail, while scanning the ground below for prey. Cultivation, grassland and semi-desert in hills and plains, and open subalpine and alpine slopes.

Colour

Rufous / Red-brownBlackGrey
Average size
33.5 cm
Habitat
Characteristically hovers in open country with rapidly beating wings and fanned tail, while scanning the ground below for prey. Cultivation, grassland and semi-desert in hills and plains, and open subalpine and alpine slopes.
Behaviour
Resident in mountains of Pakistan, Himalayas and Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, widespread winter visitor., Usually found singly or in pairs.

About this bird

Resident in mountains of Pakistan, Himalayas and Western Ghats and Sri Lanka; widespread winter visitor. Long, rather broad tail; wing-tips more rounded than on most falcons. Frequently hovers. Male has greyish head with diffuse dark moustachial stripe, rufous upperparts heavily marked with black, and grey tail with black subterminal band. Female and juvenile have rufous crown and nape streaked with black. diffuse and narrow dark moustachial stripe. rufous upperparts heavily barred and spotted with black, and dark barring on rufous tail; underwing more heavily barred than male ' s. Usually found singly or in pairs. Characteristically hovers in open country with rapidly beating wings and fanned tail, while scanning the ground below for prey. Cultivation, grassland and semi-desert in hills and plains, and open subalpine and alpine slopes.

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Common Kestrel is bigger than Black Baza but smaller than Andaman Crake.

This bird

Common Kestrel

Falco tinnunculus

32–35 cm