Greater Kestrel vs New Zealand Falcon

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

New Zealand Falcon

Falco novaeseelandiae

Large419 gForest

The forms of the New Zealand falcon differ in size, colouration, and habitat. The eastern falcon is larger and paler, while the bush falcon is smaller and darker. The southern falcon sits between the other forms in colouration and size, but has a habitat more similar to the bush falcon. The eastern falcon on average has more white tail bars in their tail feathers than the other two forms. The bush falcon primarily lives in forests while the eastern falcon is present in open steppe habitats. The bush falcons have shorter wings with better manoeuvrability within forests.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: John Barkla · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Greater Kestrel and New Zealand Falcon.