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KESTREL

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Introduction

Falco tinnunculus

The kestrel is a bird of prey from the genus Falco. It is quite common and is easy to spot and identify because of the way it flies when hunting, staying virtually still facing into the wind, at a low altitude and rapidly beating its wings in open areas while watching the ground in search of small prey which it catches by diving 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 3–6 eggs which she incubates for four weeks. The chicks start to fly a month after they hatch.

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