Page 143 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

BIRDS OF PREY
Order Falconiformes Family Falconidae Species Falco naumanni
Lesser Kestrel pale cheek spot

black-barred
blue-grey back blue-grey
panel head
FEMALE
MALE dark outer
wings
unspotted, rich
red-brown back

FEMALE
IN FLIGHT
MALE

haring the basic colours and
S patterns of the Kestrel, the male
Lesser Kestrel can be distinguished finely spotted,
deep pink-
by its unspotted back, but the buff chest
female can be very difficult to tell white claws
apart.While the smaller size of the Lesser Kestrel is blue tail
not normally obvious, its slightly stockier shape and with black
band at tip
shorter wings help in identifying it. It is also a more FLIGHT: light, quick, with shallow wingbeats;
social bird, often breeding in tight colonies. Lesser hovers like Kestrel.
Kestrel numbers have declined dramatically in Europe bluish grey head
in recent decades. It is, however, not certain whether
this is caused by problems in its wintering sites
in Africa or in its summer range.
VOICE Fast, raucous, triple call, chay-chay- brownish head MALE white underwings
chay, and nasal, high, chattering notes.
NESTING On ledges or in
cavities, in loose colonies;
3–6 eggs; 1 brood;April–July.
FEEDING Catches insects in air FEMALE
or from ground after hovering.
brown tail with
black band at tip

SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds socially on buildings and
KESTREL 32; cliffs and feeds over hot, open
2very similar;
see p.140 ground in Spain, Portugal,
S France, S Italy, and Balkans.
spotted
back 3 Summer visitor declining fast
in most areas; very rare out of
normal range.
HOVERING
Seen in the UK
The Lesser Kestrel looks much like the Kestrel while hovering; however,
J F M A M JJ A S O N D
its chunkier body, shorter tail, and square-ended rear aid identification.
Length 27–33cm (10 1 ⁄2 –13in) Wingspan 63–72cm (25–28in) Weight 90–200g (3 1 ⁄4 –7oz)
Social Flocks Lifespan 5–7 years Status Vulnerable†
141