Lesser Kestrel
Falco naumanni
The Lesser Kestrel is a rare summer migrant to Britain, typically seen in the southern regions during its passage to and from its breeding grounds in the Mediterranean and Central Asia. It is an uncommon sight in the UK, with most records coming from the southern coastlines during the spring and autumn migrations.
Field Identification Guide
Use these features to identify Lesser Kestrel in the field.
The Lesser Kestrel can be identified by its pale underside with dark streaks, a black stripe running through its eye, and a greyish-brown back with black bars on its wings and tail. Its compact body and long, pointed wings are also distinctive features.
The Lesser Kestrel is smaller than a Kestrel, being roughly the size of a large thrush, such as a Mistle Thrush.
The male Lesser Kestrel has a greyish-brown back and wings, with black bars on its wings and tail, and a pale underside with dark streaks, giving it a distinctive appearance.
Similar to the male, but with a more mottled brown back and wings, and a paler underside with darker streaks, making it slightly more camouflaged than the male.
The Lesser Kestrel's call is a sharp, high-pitched "kee-kee-kee" or "chee-chee-chee", often repeated in a rapid sequence.
The Lesser Kestrel is a hover-hunting specialist, using its agility and sharp eyesight to catch insects and small vertebrates in mid-air, and can often be seen flying low over open countryside and grasslands.
The Lesser Kestrel can be confused with the Common Kestrel, but can be distinguished by its smaller size, paler underside, and more compact body, as well as its distinctive black stripe through the eye and greyish-brown back.
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