# Common Kestrel (*Falco tinnunculus*)

> The common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a small falcon famous for hovering head-to-wind over farmland, verges, and towns while hunting voles and large insects. It breeds across Europe, Asia, and Africa — including busy UK motorway corridors — weighs about 200 g, and is listed Least Concern, though some European farmland populations have fallen.

- **Category:** Bird
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Farmland and towns across Europe, Asia, and Africa; common over UK motorway verges.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/kestrel/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Aves
- **Order:** Falconiformes
- **Family:** Falconidae
- **Genus:** Falco

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Falco tinnunculus |
| Diet | Carnivore (small mammals and insects) |
| Habitat | Open country, farmland, cliffs, and cities |
| Lifespan | Around 10 years in the wild (varies by population and captivity). |
| Weight | About 0.2 kg typical adult mass (sex and region vary). |
| Top speed | Up to roughly 70 km/h when moving at speed. |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## The hovering falcon

Kestrels face into the wind and beat their wings to stay nearly stationary, scanning the ground for movement. Males are russet with a grey head; females are more uniformly brown-barred. They nest on cliffs, buildings, and nest boxes.

## Voles, shrews, and beetles

Small mammals — especially voles — dominate the diet in temperate farmland, supplemented by grasshoppers, beetles, lizards, and small birds. Ultraviolet-sensitive vision may help them spot vole scent marks on vegetation.

## Farmland to city centres

Open country, farmland, cliffs, and towns across Europe, Asia, and Africa. UK birds often hunt motorway verges where short grass reveals rodents.

## Farmland declines in Europe

Still Least Concern overall, but intensified agriculture, fewer nest sites, and rodenticide exposure have cut numbers in parts of western Europe. Nest boxes on barns and pylons help local recovery.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why do kestrels hover?

Hovering lets them scan grassland for voles and insects without a perch, especially in open farmland and roadside verges.

### Can kestrels see vole urine trails?

Evidence suggests kestrels can detect ultraviolet reflectance from vole scent marks, helping them find hunting hotspots.

### What do common kestrels eat?

Mainly small mammals such as voles, plus large insects, lizards, and occasional small birds.

### Are kestrels falcons?

Yes — they belong to the genus Falco, the true falcons.

### Where do kestrels nest in cities?

On ledges, church towers, industrial buildings, and nest boxes — wherever they have a scrape and open hunting ground nearby.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/kestrel/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.