Photo: KrisMaes / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Grey Kestrel
Falco ardosiaceus
Grey Kestrel (Falco ardosiaceus) — Birds of Prey of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Grey Kestrel (Falco ardosiaceus) is a member of the Falconidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 234 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 ardosiaceus
Where it lives
Senegal and Gambia to Ethiopia south to Tanzania and west to Angola and Namibia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 234 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Falconidae
- Order
- Falconiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Grey Kestrel preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Grey Kestrel is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Grey Kestrel (Falco ardosiaceus) is a member of the Falconidae family, within the order Falconiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Senegal and Gambia to Ethiopia s to Tanzania and west to Angola and Namibia.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 234 g, with a wing length of about 22.9 cm and a tail of around 15.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 7.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Grey Kestrel?
The Grey Kestrel is a large bird that weighs around 234 g.
Where does the Grey Kestrel live?
The Grey Kestrel is found across Africa with a range covering AF Senegal and Gambia to Ethiopia s to Tanzania and west to Angola and Namibia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Grey Kestrel belong to?
The Grey Kestrel (Falco ardosiaceus) belongs to the Falconidae family, in the order Falconiformes.
What does the Grey Kestrel eat?
The Grey Kestrel preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Grey Kestrel migrate?
The Grey Kestrel is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Grey 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 Grey Kestrel make?
1 real field recording of the Grey Kestrel — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Grey Kestrel's range?
The Grey Kestrel has a mapped global range of about 7.3 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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