Brook, Common Kestrel
Latin Name
Falco tinnunculus
Family
Falconidae
LIFE SPAN
Wild: A common kestrel that reaches breeding age has a typical life expectancy of around four years. However, some survive considerably longer. The British Trust for Ornithology records a maximum age of 15 years, 11 months and one day for a ringed kestrel in Britain and Ireland. Juvenile mortality is high, with only around 32% surviving their first year.
Captivity: Common kestrels can live for more than 17 years when provided with appropriate nutrition, veterinary care and husbandry.
Body size
Common kestrels are small, slender falcons with long, pointed wings and a relatively long tail. As with many birds of prey, females are generally larger and heavier than males.
- Weight: Males approximately 136–252g (4.8–8.9 oz); females approximately 154–314g (5.4–11.1 oz).
- Height/body length: 32–39cm (12.6–15.4 in).
- Wingspan: 65–82cm (25.6–32.3 in).
UK ringing data gives an average adult weight of approximately 196g for males and 221g for females.
Native habitat
Common kestrels have an extensive native range covering Europe, much of Asia and Africa. Some populations remain in the same area throughout the year, while kestrels from colder northern regions may migrate south during winter.
They favour open and semi-open habitats where they can easily spot prey, including grassland, farmland, heathland, moorland, scrub, marshes and savannah. They have also adapted well to towns and cities, where parks, road verges and other open spaces provide suitable hunting grounds.
Common kestrels do not build their own nests. Instead, they use cliff ledges, holes in trees, old nests belonging to other birds, nest boxes and ledges or cavities in buildings.
Diet
Common kestrels are carnivorous and feed primarily on small mammals. Voles are particularly important prey in northern Europe, alongside mice and shrews.
Their diet can also include small birds, lizards, snakes, frogs, earthworms and large insects such as beetles, crickets and grasshoppers. Insects often form a greater part of their diet in warmer parts of Africa and the Mediterranean.
Kestrels usually hunt by hovering above open ground with their head held remarkably still, before dropping rapidly onto their prey. They may also hunt from fence posts, trees and other elevated perches. When food is plentiful, they sometimes store uneaten prey to return to later
Get to know Brook
Common Kestrels are small falcons that are widespread across the UK. They specialise in hovering above fields so that they can spot mice, voles and shrews. The males are much more colourful than the females – they have a very pretty blue head and tail whereas the female is mainly brown and black so she can hide in the nest better.
BrookBlaze, Common Kestrel (female) and Blaze (male) are a bonded, breeding pair and Brook has laid eggs the last 2 years…. unfortunately, they have been infertile but we are hopeful that we will have some little chicks soon!
Fun Fact!
Our second smallest falcon, the Kestrel is found across the UK, Eurasia and Africa. There is a huge difference in colour between male and female Kestrels – the females are mostly brown and black whereas the males have a chestnut colour back with a blue head and tail.