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Species of predatory bird
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- The common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), also known as the European kestrel, Eurasian kestrel or Old World kestrel, is a species of predatory bird belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. In the United Kingdom, where no other kestrel species commonly occurs, it is generally just called " kestrel ".
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_kestrel
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The common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), also known as the European kestrel, Eurasian kestrel or Old World kestrel, is a species of predatory bird belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae.
Quick facts. Common names: kestrel, common kestrel. Scientific name: Falco tinnunculus. Family: Falconidae (falcons) Habitat: grassland, farmland, upland, urban. Diet: voles, mice, shrews, birds and invertebrates. Predators: occasionally taken by larger birds of prey. Origin: native.
Kestrels are a familiar sight, with their pointed wings and long tail, hovering beside a roadside verge. Numbers of Kestrels have declined since the 1970s, probably as a result of changes in farming, and so it is included on the Amber List.
- Population Threats
- Population Number
- Ecological Niche
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.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Common kestrel 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 ...
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.
The common kestrel is a relatively small bird of prey reaching 32-35cm in length with a wing span measuring up to 80cm. In the UK, it is usually just referred to as the kestrel, as it is the only kestrel species found here. Kestrels are found in a wide variety of habitats, from moor and heath, to farmland and urban areas.
The kestrel is a familiar sight hovering over the side of the road, looking out for its favourite food: small mammals like field voles. It prefers open habitats like grassland, farmland and heathland, but can be seen in towns and villages.
The common kestrel is a relatively small bird of prey with pointed wings and a long tail. It is the second most numerous bird of prey in the UK after the buzzard, and is a familiar sight hovering beside roads and motorways or the edges of woodland as it searches for prey.
