Kestrel

Name: Kestrel

Scientific name: Falco tinnunculus

Category: Birds

Nature Stars: 20

What are nature stars?

About: Kestrels are probably our commonest bird of prey, a familiar sight as it hovers over the side of the road, on the lookout for small mammals, particularly field voles which are its favourite food. Kestrels are a little smaller than a pigeon, with longish w

How to identify: The easiest way to identify a Kestrel is by its behaviour: they are the only small bird of prey that hovers. Males have a grey head and tail, with gingery brown back and creamy underside specked with black and dark wing tips. Females are similar, but with

Where: Found almost everywhere.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 80
• Agility: 70
• Rarity: 40
• Cute factor: 40
• Traveller: 50

Fantastic fact: Their familiar behaviour gives the Kestrel one of its old country names: the Wind Hover.

Photograph credit: Ian Rose