The Common Kestrel........one of my favourite Birds of Prey

One of my favourite raptors to photograph, is the elegant Kestrel. Its classic pose, hovering above an open field, prior to dropping out of the sky like a stone to strike its prey, offers both outstanding beauty and a killing efficiency to be marvelled at.

I am fortunate enough to live within the territory of a pair of Kestrels and have been able to record them over the past 12 months.

When hunting, the Common Kestrel usually hovers about 10-20 mtrs above the ground, searching for prey, either by flying into the wind, or by soaring using ridge lift. 

Like most birds of prey, Common Kestrels have keen eyesight enabling them to spot small prey from a distance. Once prey is sighted, the bird makes a short, steep dive toward the target. 

This species is able to see near ultraviolet light, allowing the birds to detect the urine trails around rodent burrows as they shine in an ultraviolet colour in the sunlight.

Another favourite hunting technique is to perch a little above the ground cover, surveying the area. When the birds spot prey animals moving by, they will pounce on them. They also prowl a patch of hunting ground in a ground-hugging flight, ambushing prey as they happen across it.

Common Kestrels eat almost exclusively mouse-sized mammals: typically voles, but also shrews and mice supply up to three-quarters or more of the diet of most birds. Small birds are also taken during a few weeks each summer when unexperienced fledglings abound. Other suitably-sized vertebrates like bats, frogs and lizards are eaten only on rare occasions. Large insects such as beetles, are also eaten whenever the birds come across them.

The Common Kestrel starts breeding in spring. It is a cavity nester, preferring holes in cliffs, trees or buildings. In built-up areas, Common Kestrels will often nest on buildings, and often reuse the old nests of other birds, if they are available. In general, Common Kestrels will usually tolerate nesting nearby, and sometimes a few dozen pairs may be found nesting in a loose colony.

The clutch is normally 3-6 eggs, but may contain any number of eggs up to seven. The eggs are abundantly patterned with brown spots, from a wash that tinges the entire surface buffish white to large almost-black blotches. Incubation lasts approx 4 weeks and only the female hatches the eggs. The male is responsible for providing her with food, and for some time after hatching this remains the same. Later, both parents share brooding and hunting duties until the young fledge, after 4–5 weeks. The family stays close together for a few weeks, up to a month or so, during which time the young learn how to fend for themselves and hunt prey. The young become sexually mature the next breeding season.

Sadly, most Common Kestrels die before they reach 2 years of age. Mortality up to the first birthday may be as high as 70%. However, the biological lifespan can be 16 years or more.

They are small compared with other birds of prey, but larger than most songbirds. Like the other falcon species, they have long wings as well as a distinctive long tail.

Their plumage is mainly light chestnut brown with blackish spots on the upperside and buff with narrow blackish streaks on the underside. Unlike most hawks, they display sexual colour dimorphism with the male having less black spots and streaks, as well as a blue-grey cap and tail. The tail is brown with black bars in females, and has a black tip with a narrow white rim in both sexes. All Common Kestrels have a prominent black stripe around the cheek area, like their closest relatives. The cere (soft skin surrounding the nostrils), feet, and a narrow ring around the eye are bright yellow, whilst the toenails, bill and iris are dark.

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