Eleonora's Falcon vs Greater Kestrel

Eleonora's Falcon

Falco eleonorae

Large390 gCoastal

Eleonora's falcon is a bird of prey, 36–42 cm (14–17 in) long with an 87–104 cm (34–41 in) wingspan. It is shaped like a large Eurasian hobby or a small slender peregrine falcon, with its long pointed wings, long tail and slim body. There are two colour morphs: The adult dark morph is all sooty brown, with black underwing coverts. The light morph is more like a juvenile Eurasian hobby, but has buff underparts, and also shows the contrast between the black underwing coverts and paler base to the flight feathers.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Σταυρούλα Χρήστος · CC BY 4.0

Greater Kestrel

Falco rupicoloides

Medium261 gGrassland

The plumage of the adult is mainly pale rufous, both above and below. The back, upperwing and flanks are barred with black. The breast has dark streaks and the head is streaked but has no malar stripe unlike the common and lesser kestrels. The rump and tail are grey with black bars; the tail has a white tip. In flight, the whitish underwing contrasts with the darker body. The iris of the eye is whitish, distinguishing the bird from any similar species. The bill is mainly blue-grey and the feet and cere are yellow.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Anja J. · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Eleonora's Falcon and Greater Kestrel.