About the Greater Kestrel
The greater kestrel or white-eyed kestrel is a bird of prey belonging to the falcon family Falconidae. It is one of the largest kestrels and is found in open country in southern and eastern Africa.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the Greater Kestrel lives
When to see the Greater Kestrel
Peak activity in January · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
New Zealand FalconFalco novaeseelandiaeThe forms of the New Zealand falcon differ in size, colouration, and habitat.
Eleonora's FalconFalco eleonoraeEleonora's falcon is a bird of prey, 36–42 cm (14–17 in) long with an 87–104 cm (34–41 in) wingspan.
Grey KestrelFalco ardosiaceusIt is a fairly small, stocky kestrel with a large, flat-topped head and fairly short wings that don't reach past the tip of the tail when at rest.
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