The Falcon Family
(Falconidae)

Order:Birds of Prey (Falconiformes)

Birds in the Falcon Family are similar to Eagles and Sparrowhawks and are also birds of prey. They have pointed wings and long tails and are superb flyers. They also have sharp beaks and claws.

Falcon Family birds include the Falcon, Kestrel, Merlin and Hobby.

Kestrel

Falco tinnunculus

The Kestrel is a high speed hunting bird. Like most hunting birds, it has large eyes all the better to see its prey with.

The Kestrel's body and wings are brown, with black speckles. The wing tips are black. Its tail and head are grey.

Habitat

Kestrels can be found in grasslands, wooded country and around cliff-tops.

They eat mostlly eat field mice, as well as voles, large insects and sometimes small birds.

The Kestrel's nest is made of sticks. It often uses an old crow's or pigeon's nest, in a tree, old ruined building, church tower or cliff edge.

The eggs are laid between April and May. Five or six brown speckled eggs are laid.

They can be found in the south of England, throughout the year. However, some of them do fly south for the winter.

The Kestrel makes a "kik-kik-kik" and a "wrreee" sound.

38 cm.

When a Kestrel is hunting, it often hovers in the same spot, staring at the ground, seemingly frozen to the spot, but in mid-air.