small falcon with long tail. Distinctive reddish-brown back in all dresses. Male with grey head and grey tail with black terminal band, female with entirely reddish-brown upperparts, including strongly banded tail. Shallow, calm flight, prays a lot. In silhouette, the long tail is distinctive, wing tips less pointed than in other falcons. In sit, the tail extends well beyond the wing tips. Short toes. The kestrel hunts mainly mice. These are mostly (up to 90%) field and voles. It also eats large insects, lizards and young birds. The kestrel is an annual guest and is present in the Netherlands throughout the year. They do not necessarily stay in the same place. Northeastern European kestrels overwinter here or migrate further. During prolonged snow, 'our'kestrel also migrates away.
The kestrel is usually seen hanging still in the air, or 'praying', in search of mice. While doing so, they sometimes make many wing beats, but the head always remains on the same plate
Ik ben John Smits, geboren in 1962 en sinds 1993 getrouwd. Ik heb een eigen studio in Gouda. IK ben ook regelmatig op pad om de prachtigste foto's te maken.. Read more…