What are kestrels?
There are 14 species of small Falcos that are grouped as kestrels. They are found on all the continents except Antartica although there is only one species found in the America’s and one in Australia. All remaining 12 species are found in Africa and Europe (2 species). This group of small falcons differs from the other falcons in that they are typically small (up to about 350 grams), most have a rufous-brown plumage (three have a grey plumage), share similar morphological features such as shorter wings, longer tails and shorter toes and several have plumage that is sexually dimorphic. Most species spend some of their time hunting by hovering and are generalist hunters, feeding on invertebrates, birds, lizards and mammals. Some species have adapted well to man and nest in man-made structures (buildings and churches) or nest boxes. However, other kestrel species such as some of the island species have suffered due to large scale habitat destruction. One kestrel species, the Lesser Kestre
