CERNÍCALO / KESTREL

KESTREL

Falco Tinnunculus

Characteristics

This small diurnal raptor, also known in some areas "real Kestrel" has pointed wings and long narrow tail, and an aerodynamic shape. It measures from 31 to 38 cm in length and has from 65 to 82 cm wingspan. Male and female are very different. The male has a blue-gray head, with a darker color moustache. Its tail is gray with a broad black band near the edge, which is white. His body is brown or rust red cauldron with black spots, and its chest and belly are light beige with fine dark specks. The female is brown, both body and head, with cross bars on the back and tail. Below it has longitudinal spots, and is slightly heavier than the male. Immature individuals are very similar to females, but they are scratched by the bottom. Seen flying from below, the wings are a uniform gray, with lists. They are medium-sized, somewhat wider and pointed than other falcons. Although it is similar to the lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni), although the vulgar is somewhat higher, they are distinguished by the lesser lacks spots on the back, the gray of his head is more uniform and central tail feathers stick out, making it look rounded. Lesser nails are white, while the kestrel ones are black.

Habitats

The kestrel's habitat extends throughout Europe, Asia and Africa, and accidentally it can be also found in America and Indonesia. The northern European populations remain in the south during winter, while southern populations remain there all year. The Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands are home to about 30,000 pairs. It is the largest falcon. It is easy to see during the day, because he likes the open field and shrub lands, meadows and pastures. It is usually seen flying over farmland and moorland, even in alpine meadows. Generally, this bird avoids tight and deep forests. They nest in crevices of rocks or buildings, old crows’ nests, tree hollows or directly on the ground. They actually nest in any terrain, even in sea cliffs. They also can be seen nesting in towns and cities.

Reproduction

The Kestrel nest, as listed above, may have been the former home of a couple of crows or magpies, or a hole in a wall. During the spring, mating season begins in the kestrel. The male makes air shows, flying sideways or doing minced with folded wings. This leads to a noisy courtship mating on a branch near the nest. The most early bird lay eggs during the last ten days of April, but most kestrels lays them in May. This unique set from three to six eggs that the female incubates from 26 to 31 days, while the male feeds the female. If food is not enough, the incubation is interrupted. At the end of the incubation period the chicks hatch with their eyes open and covered with white down. During the first eight days of life, they will be carefully covered by the wings of the female, the next eight days will remain covered, but with less zeal. Now that the chickens do not need much warmth, the mother can also go in search of food. It is set apart to the peak height of chicks and feeds neatly without fights. When they have thirty days, and its appearance is similar to his mother, the chicks leave the nest, but will be still fed by their parents for another month.

Food and customs

Kestrel’s hunting technique is unmistakable, even the lesser kestrel uses it as often or in a sustained way. Before, it was compared it with a helicopter, and its hovering flight, stationary waiting to spot prey , can’t but remind us of immobility in flight capabilities of these aircraft. Sometimes they guard its territory, perched on a stake or haphazardly flying less frequently planning on semicircles. At other times, it remains almost stationary between 10 and 20 m above the ground, facing the wind completely still or moving his wings like a butterfly to avoid horizontal scrolling, with its fan-shaped tail. When it sees a potential prey, it swoops for the prey, retracting its wings in the final meters and colliding hard against the floor. Once captured its objective, which finished with a peck on the neck. Their victims are usually rodents and other small mammals, lizards, young birds (although adults of small birds), frogs, etc. Its possible predators, according to a large study, are 27. Among them are some carnivores, corvids and raptors.In summer, they feed heavily on large insects such as locusts. No waiver of larger prey, such as weasels or quail. They emit a "ki -ki- ki" sound, thin, sharp and piercing, especially when alarmed. The female sounds hoarse, and in the breeding area repeats a loud "kri - kri – kri."