Sunday 20 November 2011

Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Falco ("falcon") naumanni (after Johann Friedrich Naumann)
Two adult male Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) in Castille-La-Mancha, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 90-172g  /  Length: 29-32cm  /  Wingspan: 58-72cm
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Lesser Kestrel is the other kestrel of Europe, and in many ways its a very different sort of bird despite the similar appearances.  Visually the females of both species are almost identical, but in the males there is a distinct lack of markings over the same base colours than differentiates the two, as well as blue-grey on the wings. Unusually for European species, the Lesser Kestrel is a communal falcon, and is also migratory, although the ones in Seville are at least partially resident.

Related Species:
Order:
Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Genus: Falco
Subspecies: none - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -
SPAIN - Spanish - CernĂ­calo primilla "Little Cousin Kestrel"
Widespread Summer migrant to most of the country, though resident in a few locations in the South.
 - SEVILLE 2011 TRIP: Several seen around central Seville 
 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: A bird seen on farmland near Madrid
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Seen at various locations including Laguna del Longar and from the road in locations in Castille La Mancha

Further Notes:  BirdForum OpusIUCN Red ListRSPBWikipedia, Xeno-canto

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