Brown Falcon vs Lesser Kestrel

Brown Falcon

Falco berigora

Large587 gWoodland

Adults are usually 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20 in) long. They are found in light and dark forms and a variety of intermediates. Animals typically have red-brown heads with narrow black streaks with a light crown and off-white chin. Wings are a spotted red-brown with dark brown quills. Beaks are light blue/grey; eyes are brown. The falcons make a loud cackle call uttered frequently.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Cal Wood · CC BY 4.0

Lesser Kestrel

Falco naumanni

Medium152 gGrassland

It is a small bird of prey, 27–33 cm (11–13 in) in length with a 63–72 cm (25–28 in) wingspan. It looks very much like the larger common kestrel but has proportionally shorter wings and tail. It shares a brown back and barred grey underparts with the larger species. The male has a grey head and tail like male common kestrels, but lacks the dark spotting on the back, the black malar stripe, and has grey patches in the wings. The female and young birds are slightly paler than their relative, but are so similar that call and structure are better guides than plumage.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: fabca121 · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Brown Falcon and Lesser Kestrel.