Kestrel - description, habitat, interesting facts

The content of the article

1 Description of the kestrel
2 Kestrel habitat
3 Kestrel Hunting Features
4 Kestrel breeding
5 Interesting facts about the kestrel
6 Video: Kestrel Falcon (Falco tinnunculus)

“Kestrel tremulous flight ...” is the name of one of the most beautiful works of poetry. Indeed, the flight of the kestrel must not only be watched; they should be admired and admired. The bird is able to freeze in the flow of headwind, to hold in the air masses, only slightly flapping its wings and remaining immovable relative to the earth. So the kestrel hunts - because the bird is a predator and it needs prey. The common Kestrel is a member of the order of falcons of the falcon family. The bird is quite common, even a symbol of the Russian Union for the Protection of Birds.

The kestrel received the scientific name of the bird “Tininkus” for the peculiarity of its cry, which resembles the long sounds of “T-T-TI” In Russian, the etymological name comes from the word "pasture",in past centuries, birds were more often called “pastels” because the predator preferred to hover in the air over pastures, looking for prey. According to another version, the name of the bird "Kestrel" comes from the word "empty, vain." This refers to the inability of the kestrel to falconry, unlike other members of the species. What is a kestrel bird, where it lives, how it breeds and what it feeds on, let's try to figure it out.

Description of the kestrel

The male kestrel is clearly different from the female, primarily by the color of the plumage on the head. The female has a brown plumage, almost brown. Pale shades are characteristic of the male. In addition, the male has a large number of black spots on the back - diamond-shaped specks. At the end of the tail are black stripes with white edging. The female has no such jewelry, but on her plumage there is a transverse brown stripe in the back area and many small strips at the tail level. External differences in plumage appear only after the onset of puberty, and before that all kestrel teenagers look the same. The length of the kestrel is about 30-35 cm, and the female is usually larger.The weight of a bird is about 300 grams. The more massive the female kestrel, the more numerous the clutch will be, such chicks are born healthier and more viable. This means that there will be much more pugs for a large female.

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Kestrel habitat

The Kestrel is one of the most common birds of prey in Central Europe. In addition, birds of this species can be found in North Africa and Western Asia. The bird can be settled or migratory, depending on the amount of feed at the place of residence and the severity of winter. If all the game for the winter hides in the burrows, the kestrel will be forced to migrate for the wintering - as a rule, to Europe or Africa. In the process of migration, the kestrel is able to cover great distances, it does not interrupt the flight even during rain and bad weather. A surprising fact is that the bird in flight is kept quite low, not more than 100 meters above ground level. For living the kestrel chooses small woods, forest edges with relatively small vegetation. Sometimes kestrels settle in crevices of rocks, in rare cases a bird can be found at a high altitude - more than five thousand meters above sea level.In recent years, the kestrel has increasingly begun to notice the kestrel closer to humans - the bird is approaching cities and villages, settling in close access. Falcon of this species can be found in attics and balconies of abandoned buildings - for birds it is a much more preferred nesting place than a tree branch.

Kestrel Hunting Features

The possibility of trembling flight is a feature of the kestrel. The bird is able to freeze in a stream of headwind so that it seems as if it was suspended for invisible ropes. This amazing ability gives the falcon the opportunity to look out for prey at long distances. The bird has excellent eyesight, it can see a vole from a colossal distance. As soon as the kestrel notices the prey, it presses the wings to the body, comes down to the ground with a stone and instantly catches the game with sharp claws. In the diet of kestrels, mice and other small rodents are most common. The bird can attack chicks of a different species. The kestrel feeds on lizards, moles and rats with pleasure. During hunger periods, the kestrel will not give up worms and other insects. Usually the falcon of this species hunts at a height of 10-40 meters above the ground, not rising higher.In winter, during bad weather, the bird chooses for itself an observation point in the form of a tree on the field, and from there it looks out for prey. The kestrel flies into the field with any movement detected, because feeding in the cold season is more difficult. Together with the caught prey, the kestrel returns to the shelter.

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Kestrel breeding

The kestrel's mating season is very interesting to observe. During courtship, the male as if attacks the female, with great force flying over her, but at the last moment stops before the lady of the heart. If the female is conquered by similar advances, she begins to spin in the air along with the gentleman. As such, the kestrels do not build nests, they often arrange laying in the crevices of rocks, in various indentations. Often, falcons occupy abandoned nests of other birds. If the kestrel does not find anything suitable, the bird can settle right in the thickets of low vegetation.

The nesting period begins in April, and by the end of the month the female lays from two to four eggs in the clutch. Hatching eggs mainly female, it takes about a month.The chicks are born almost naked, mom carefully warms them for 8-10 days until the first fluff appears. After that, the female, along with the male begins to feed the offspring. Parents bring a mouse to babies, pinch off fresh meat from the carcass and put it in the beak to the chicks. Surprisingly, the kestrel chicks do not open their beak wide, as are the babies of other birds. In the future, when the chicks grow up, brought prey will not be finished. Parents will give the mouse to the children completely, then the most hungry and viable chick will manage the prey - all according to the laws of nature. One month later, when the chicks are getting stronger, the female will teach the children to fly and hunt.

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Interesting facts about the kestrel

Recently, the kestrel more and more flies to people, settles in close proximity, it gives the opportunity to openly observe the life and habits of beautiful falcons.

Despite the active courtship of the male, a female still chooses a pair of kestrels. She herself goes down to the chosen cavalier, makes certain sounds of “tsykanya”, after which the male decides to courtship.In order to win the attention of a beautiful lady, the males often catch for them tasty prey, put the carcass on the bottom of the future nest. If the female accepts the gift, the lovers become a couple.
The average life span of a kestrel is 16 years.
The highest bird mortality is observed in the harsh winter months, when food becomes catastrophically low.
Kestrel is not suitable for falconry, because it is unable to hunt in the air. It is rather an exception for the birds of this species and family. For many centuries people tried to teach the kestrel to hunt other birds. But the strongest craving for mice and rodents has become insurmountable for the kestrel.

The number of birds of this species is quite high - there are almost 2 million pairs of individuals in the world.
Man appreciates the kestrel, because the bird kills rodents that eat grain on sown fields. Some time ago, kestrels were on the verge of extinction, because the bird is sensitive to pesticides that poisoned rodents. After pesticide use was banned, the bird population quickly recovered.
Scientists notice the fact that in the cities, kestrel laying is smaller in number of chicks. In nature, chicks hatch more, by 30-40%.

Kestrel loves to settle on high towers, on the roofs of high-rise buildings and bell towers. The most famous pair of falcons has found refuge in the tower of the Westminster Parliament in Britain. They did not dare to expel the birds, they became a symbol of peace and stability.

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