General

Eurasian Kestrel: Small falcon with spotted rufous upperparts and brown-streaked buff underparts. Head is gray with black moustache stripe. Tail is black- and blue-gray banded with black tip. Female has pale brown-streaked head and black-banded tail. Juvenile resembles female, but has heavier barring on upperparts and tail.

Range and Habitat

Eurasian Kestrel: Native to Europe, Asia, and Africa; casual visitor to western Aleutians and Bering Sea region, accidental in fall and winter on the east coast from New Brunswick to New Jersey, and on the west coast to British Columbia. Found in open grasslands, hills, plains, and cultivated and semi-desert areas.

Breeding and Nesting

Eurasian Kestrel: Three to six brown marked, white eggs are laid in an abandoned nest, usually in a tree split or cavity, and lined with little if any nest material; nest may also be located on a ledge, cliff, or building. Incubation ranges from 28 to 32 days and is carried out primarily by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Eurasian Kestrel: Feeds mostly on short-tailed field voles, but also consumes other voles, mice, shrews, small birds, insects, and earthworms.

Vocalization

Eurasian Kestrel: Generally quiet, but can be very noisy around breeding time, uttering a piecing "kee-kee-kee."

Similar Species

Eurasian Kestrel: American Kestrel is smaller and has two dark facial stripes.