Common Kestrel

A small falcon well known for hovering into the wind.

A recording has not been added yet. Use the identification notes below for now.

I know this bird · Record a sighting Where to look & how to find it ↓

FIELDCRAFT · FIND WITH CARE

Finding guide

Habitat first

Choose the season, find the habitat, then watch patiently. Search guidance is not a measure of rarity or conservation status.

When to go: All year
Where to start: Open grassland and coastal pasture; stay on paths to protect ground nests.
What to do when you arrive: Scan above grassland from public paths for a raptor hovering into the wind. Watch natural hunting without following across fields or approaching nests.

Habitat and behaviour reference: BirdWatch Ireland ↗ · The practical steps are editorial advice based on the references, not live sightings.

SPECIES NOTESSpecies notes

How to identify it

Rufous, dark-spotted back, pointed wings and a long tail. Males have grey head and tail with a dark terminal band; females have barred brown tails. Hovering alone is not diagnostic.

Habitat

Grassland, rough pasture, moorland and open fields.

Behaviour

Drops from a hover or perch to catch small prey.

When to look

All year

Where to look

Open grassland and coastal pasture; stay on paths to protect ground nests.

Reference photos do not show every sex, age, season or geographic form; use the identification notes too.

Further reading:BirdWatch Ireland ↗ · Wikipedia ↗

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