Kestrel

Short Description

Kestrels have long wings tapered to a point; in fully grown birds, they extend to the tips of the tail feathers in the resting position. The tail is rounded. The legs are bright yellow, the talons are black.

A male kestrel can be recognised by its grey head and red-brown back with black transverse stripes. The tail is grey with a black terminal rim, the underparts are light cream with only a few pale brown spots.

A female kestrel is red-brown all over with dense, dark spots or transverse stripes. The underside is light brown and more spotted than in the male.

In the city

Kestrels benefit from urbanisation, as towers and other tall buildings create new habitats. Kestrels are the most common bird of prey found in an urban environment. They like to nest in high towers right in the city centre. This forces them at times to cover great distances to suitable open spaces for hunting.

They are not very shy of humans.