Falco cenchroides
The Nankeen Kestrel, *Falco cenchroides*, is a small, graceful raptor native to Australia, renowned for its distinctive hovering flight. Measuring 30-35 cm in length with a wingspan of 60-70 cm and weighing 120-180g, it is Australia's smallest falcon. Males typically exhibit a pale grey head, unbarred rufous back, and buff-white underparts, with black primary tips and a grey tail featuring a broad, dark subterminal band. Females and juveniles are generally browner, with a streaked brown head,...
Found primarily in open country, grasslands, and sparse woodlands, the Nankeen Kestrel thrives in arid and semi-arid environments, as well as agricultural lands and urban fringes from sea level to moderate elevations.
Their diet primarily consists of large insects, especially grasshoppers and crickets, supplemented by small mammals like mice and voles, small birds, and lizards, which are typically caught after a hovering dive.
Nankeen Kestrels are diurnal hunters, often seen perching on elevated structures like power poles or dead trees, scanning the landscape. Their most characteristic foraging strategy is sustained hovering flight, allowing them to pinpoint prey before a swift, direct dive. They are typically solitar...
The Nankeen Kestrel is widespread and abundant throughout mainland Australia and Tasmania, inhabiting nearly all open and semi-open environments. While predominantly resident across much of its range, northern Australian populations may exhibit partial southward movements during the dry season, a...
Least Concern
- The Nankeen Kestrel can hover in place for extended periods, sometimes for several minutes, allowing it to scan the ground below with remarkable precision. - Its name, 'Nankeen', refers to a yellowish-brown cotton cloth, accurately describing the bird's predominant rufous-buff plumage. - Unlike...