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Common Kestrel
Latin Name:
Falco tinnunculus
Category:
Size:
35cm
Description:
Male: black-streaked, ash-grey crown, sides of neck and nape; rufous mantle, black-spotted; cheek-stripe; grey tail has white tip and black subterminal band; streaked and spotted buffy underbody. Female: pale rufous above; streaked head and narrowly barred back; paler buff below, densely streaked. Young: like female; thickly streaked below. Solitary or in pairs; on exposed perches overlooking open country; circles in air and pounces into grass and scrub; often hovers when hunting.
Habitat:
open country; cliffsides.
Food:
insects, lizards, small rodents.
Distribution:
resident; local migrant; several races; breeds in the Himalaya (most common in the west); also in W Ghats south of Mumbai; associated hill ranges in S India; winter numbers augmented.
Call:
Call Description:
an infrequent clicking sound.
IUCN:
At IITK: