Kestrel Question?

Question

Is there anything interesting about them? What kind of characteristics/attributes do they have?

Answer 1

A kestrel is one of the only raptors that can see UV light, they use this by traking a rodent through grass, and because most rodents have no controll over their bladder (they wee wherever they go) the kestrel can see the urine trail by UV and follows it untill it sees movement and then stoops and kills.

They are one of only a few birds that can hover with or without wind, these also include barn owls and Harriers.

They are a falcon, not many people realise this.

they are one of the few raptors with obvious male to female colour differences, common kestrel males have a blue head and tail, females are all brown.

I'n medieval England, the Kestrel was considered the knaves bird, flown for pleasure only and rarly for sport and definatly not to put food on the table.

During the breeding season, the mating call sounds like they are shouting tick, tick, tick.

The Mauritius Kestrel is the most endangered Raptor in the world.

The common kestrel is one of the most adaptable raptors we know of and will live, hunt and nest almost anywhere from very rural to heavily industrial or residential areas.

They do not build nests but will use those from other birds, more likely to make a scrape, this is a dug out hollow in sand or dirt fount in cliff faces or in crevices in old buildings.

They are one of my favourite raptors and are dead cute and cheeky.

Answer 2

They are also one of the few falcons to use the hover hunting method. There most noticed while exhibiting this behavior.

Answer 3

Excellent hunters (able to soar and swoop down on small animal prey).  Females are a bit larger than the males.   Bold birds and have no problem living amongst humans (seen building nests in buildings and hunting by major roads).  Kestrels do not build they're own nest, but use nests built by other birds/animals.