Common kestrel
The common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It is also known as the European kestrel, Eurasian kestrel, or Old World kestrel. In the United Kingdom, where no other kestrel species commonly occurs, it is generally just called "kestrel".
| Common kestrel | |
|---|---|
| Adult male Falco tinnunculus tinnunculus | |
| Adult Female Falco tinnunculus tinnunculus from Tal Chhapar Sanctuary, Churu, Rajasthan, India | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Falconiformes |
| Family: | Falconidae |
| Genus: | Falco |
| Species: | F. tinnunculus |
| Binomial name | |
| Falco tinnunculus | |
| Subspecies | |
|
About 10, see text | |
| Global map of eBird reports of F. t. tinnunculus Year-Round Range Summer Range Winter Range | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Falco rupicolus Daudin, 1800 (but see text) | |
This species occurs over a large range. It is widespread in Europe, Asia, and Africa, as well as occasionally reaching the east coast of North America. It has colonized a few oceanic islands, but vagrant individuals are generally rare; in the whole of Micronesia for example, the species was only recorded twice each on Guam and Saipan in the Marianas.