Common Kestrel

A small falcon inhabiting farmland.

Scientific name	Falco tinnunculus
English name	Common Kestrel
Japanese name	長元坊
Class	Aves
Order	Falconiformes
Family	Falconidae
Genus	Falco
Species	tinnunculus
Full length	30-40cm
Distribution	Distributed across Eurasia and Africa.

Common Kestrel Characteristics and Morphology

A small falcon about the size of a pigeon. It looks large when its wings are spread. Generally brown in color. Females are larger than males.
The head is brown. The bill is sharply pointed, yellow at the base and black at the tip. The eyes are large and round with a black iris. The eye ring is yellow, and a black malar stripe runs vertically under the eye. Brown (dark brown) spots line both the back and the belly. The wings are brown, and the belly is white. The yellow feet have sharp talons.

Male

Smaller than the female, slightly over 30cm.
The color of the head is grayish. The tail feathers are dark brown.

Female

Large-bodied, nearly 40cm. The entire body is brown.
The head color is brown. Dark brown spots on the wings are prominent. Even the tail feathers are brown.

Song

It cries with a sharp "ki-ki-ki" or "kii-kii" sound.

Common Kestrel Ecology

Habitat

Frequently seen in open areas such as fields and riverbeds.

Food

Feeds on small animals like insects and frogs, and occasionally attacks small birds.

Life Cycle

Breeds using holes in cliffs or hollows in trees as nests.

Common Kestrel Photos

Common Kestrel Photos are introduced.
Tap the photo to open the detail page.

It took off and moved to a new location.

Watching the surroundings from a utility pole.

Common Kestrel Behavior

It hovers while searching for prey from the air above fields. Once it finds prey, it dives straight down. It can also be seen perched in high-visibility spots such as on top of utility poles or posts. Many poles in farmland along the Sagami River in Kanagawa Prefecture and farm roads facing the Aki River in Takatsuki-machi, Hachioji City, seem to be favorites, as they are often marked with white droppings.

Common Kestrel Information

Naming

The scientific name "tinnunculus" comes from a word meaning "ringing" or "tinkling," likely referring to its sharp call.

Common Kestrel Found Locations

Sagami River, Kanagawa Prefecture

Discovered in farmland along the Sagami River in Kanagawa Prefecture. It appeared to be searching for prey from the top of a utility pole. It moved occasionally by flying, but its flight was relatively leisurely.
Perhaps due to its small size, the way it flapped its wings when taking off looked somewhat like a pigeon or other non-raptorial wild bird.

A Kestrel Hunting

In the same farmland along the Sagami River where I previously found one, I observed a kestrel catching a Grey-capped Greenfinch. Suddenly, the surroundings became noisy, and the greenfinches scattered in all directions. The kestrel dived from a height of about 20m and struck the ground. After catching one greenfinch, it flew off toward the mountains.

Farm Road in Takatsuki-machi, Hachioji City

It was perched on the tip of a utility pole on a farm road facing the Aki River in Takatsuki-machi, Hachioji City. Many utility poles in the area seem to be favorites, as many were marked with white droppings.
It was moving back and forth between the riverbed and the farm road while being mobbed by crows.