Lesser Kestrel

The Lesser Kestrel is, as the name implies, a smaller and more delicate bird than the Common Kestrel with long pointed wings and a long tail marked with a black band at the end. Males and females are distinguishable by colouring. Males have a pale brown back and blue-grey feathers on the crown, rump, neck and tail. The belly is creamy pink with small brown streaks. In females, the back and head are mid brown and the belly is pale. Both back and belly are streaked with brown. Males and females have white undersides to their wings, with black tips. The eye ring is bright yellow and the feet are yellow to orange. The ankles and feet lack feathers.

The Lesser Kestrel breeds from the Mediterranean across southern central Asia to China and Mongolia. It is a summer migrant, wintering in Africa and Pakistan and sometimes even India. It is rare north of its breeding range.

In its breeding range, the Lesser Kestrel can be found in open or wooded grassland and cultivated areas and nests in areas with mountain slopes, gorges and deep ravines surrounded by open areas for hunting.

The Lesser Kestrel is widespread and plentiful on a global scale but in many areas of its range it seems to be undergoing a significant and possibly accelerating decline. The main cause of decline is habitat loss and degradation as a result of agricultural intensification, afforestation and urbanisation. Populations have been reduced most in the European range.

Date: 10th September 2010

Location: Cerecinos de Campos, Castille y Leon, Spain