Kestrel

The kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a fairly common bird of prey and is easy to spot and identify because of the way it flies when it is hunting, staying virtually still facing into the wind, at a low height and rapidly beating its wings in open areas while watching the ground in search of small prey which it catches by stooping on to it. It mainly eats small mammals (such as mice and shrews), large insects and some reptiles and small birds. It builds its nests in trees, cliffs and abandoned farmhouses. The female lays between 3 and 6 eggs which she incubates for four weeks. The chicks start to fly a month after they hatch. Photo: Andreas Trepte.