Rock Kestrel

Falco rupicolus

Falcons and Caracaras · Falconiformes · Uncommon

The Rock Kestrel (Falco rupicolus) is a uncommon falcons and caracara found in 12 countries. The rock kestrel is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae.

Not EvaluatedUncommon

About the Rock Kestrel

The rock kestrel is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It was previously considered a subspecies of the common kestrel.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

A slender, medium-sized kestrel, between 30 and 33 centimeters tall. Adult male kestrels weigh between 183g and 254g, while females weigh between 190g and 280g.

Where it lives

Recorded as a rare visitor in Kenya, Tanzania.

When to see it

The Rock Kestrel can be seen all year round, with peak activity in September. It is a resident species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Rock Kestrel?
A slender, medium-sized kestrel, between 30 and 33 centimeters tall. Full identification notes are on this page.
Where can you see a Rock Kestrel?
The Rock Kestrel occurs in 12 countries, including South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana and Angola.
What birds look similar to a Rock Kestrel?
The Rock Kestrel is most easily confused with the Australian Hobby, the Aplomado Falcon and the Red-footed Falcon.

Learn the Rock Kestrel for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

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