Photo: Andreas Trepte / CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Common Kestrel
Falco tinnunculus
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) — Birds of Prey of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 11 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a member of the Falconidae family found in Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 183 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Falconiformes
- Family Falconidae Caracaras, Falcons
- Genus Falco
- Species tinnunculus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 183 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Falconidae
- Order
- Falconiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Common Kestrel preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open scrub and shrubland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Common Kestrel is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a member of the Falconidae family, within the order Falconiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL, AF widespread.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 183 g, with a wing length of about 24.2 cm and a tail of around 15.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 49 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Common Kestrel?
The Common Kestrel is a large bird that weighs around 183 g.
Where does the Common Kestrel live?
The Common Kestrel is found across Africa and Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL, AF widespread, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Common Kestrel belong to?
The Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) belongs to the Falconidae family, in the order Falconiformes.
What does the Common Kestrel eat?
The Common Kestrel preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Common Kestrel migrate?
The Common Kestrel is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Common Kestrel endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Common Kestrel make?
1 real field recording of the Common Kestrel — including its begging call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Common Kestrel's range?
The Common Kestrel has a mapped global range of about 49 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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