About the Fox Kestrel
The fox kestrel is a bird of prey belonging to the falcon family Falconidae. It is found in arid, open country in the northern part of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
It is a large, slender kestrel with long, narrow wings and tail. It is 32–38 cm (13–15 in) long with a wingspan of 76–88 cm (30–35 in) and a weight of 250–300 g (8.8–10.6 oz). The female is 3% larger than the male. The plumage is dark rufous above and below with black streaks. The tail is narrowly barred with black while the flight feathers of the wing are dark and unbarred. The underwings are pale, contrasting with the darker body. The eye is yellow-brown unlike the similar greater kestrel which has whitish eyes as well as paler plumage, barred flight feathers and grey on the tail.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Sierra Leone.
When to see it
Peak activity in December · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Sooty FalconFalco concolorThis is an elegant bird of prey, 32–37 cm long with a 78–90 cm wingspan.
Grey FalconFalco hypoleucosThe species has mainly grey upperparts and white underparts, darker on the tips of the flight feathers and with a yellow cere.
Oriental HobbyFalco severusAdults are rich orange-red below, bluish-grey above with a black hood and pale throat.
Learn the Fox Kestrel for real
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