Photo: Thomas Schoch / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Greater Kestrel
Falco rupicoloides
Greater Kestrel (Falco rupicoloides) — Birds of Prey of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Greater Kestrel (Falco rupicoloides) is a member of the Falconidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 261 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 rupicoloides
Quick facts
- Weight
- 261 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Falconidae
- Order
- Falconiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Greater Kestrel is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Greater Kestrel is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Greater Kestrel (Falco rupicoloides) is a species of bird in the Falconidae family, part of the order Falconiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF e, s.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 261 g, with a wing length of about 27.6 cm and a tail of around 16.1 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 3.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Greater Kestrel?
The Greater Kestrel is a large bird that weighs around 261 g.
Where does the Greater Kestrel live?
The Greater Kestrel is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, s, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Greater Kestrel belong to?
The Greater Kestrel (Falco rupicoloides) belongs to the Falconidae family, in the order Falconiformes.
What does the Greater Kestrel eat?
The Greater Kestrel is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Greater Kestrel migrate?
The Greater Kestrel is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Greater 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 Greater Kestrel make?
1 real field recording of the Greater 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 Greater Kestrel's range?
The Greater Kestrel has a mapped global range of about 3.2 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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