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.