Photo: Vlaamse
Broedvogelatlas
| Greek Name: | kenchreís or (in Aristoph.) kerchnés [German: Turmfalke; Thompson: kestrel-hawk] | |
| Description: | Males: Back and back of wings reddish-brown with small dark spots, dark-brown flight feather, bluish-grey head and bluish-grey tail with black tip. L 32-35 cm, W 68-78 cm. | |
| Habitat: | Most frequent European falcon, can be found almost anywhere in Europe, nists often in old crows nests, on cliffs, or on high buildings like the bellfries of churches. | |
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Behaviour: |
Feeds mostly on mice, but also on birds and insects. When hunting for prey, the kestrel likes to sit on fence posts or power line, or it hovers in the air ca. 10 m above ground, its tail spread out and slightly bent downwards (1). When it has spied a potential victim, it suddenly swoops down, jumps on its target and tries to kill it with a swift pick to the head. | |
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Ancient Associations: |
In antiquity, the kestrel was known for laying four or more red eggs, more than all other birds of prey (Aristot. Hist. Anim. 558 b 29; Gen. Anim. 750 a 7). According to ancient lore, the kestrel did not need to drink at all (Aelian II 43, Suid. s.v. kechreís).The Roman natural historian Pliny the Elder claims that kestrels protect doves against other hawks (Plin. Nat. Hist. X 52) and mentions that their dung was used as a salve against sore eyes (XXIX. 38.8), probably by way of sympathetic magic (since kestrels are sharp-sighted, kestrel dung restores vision).(2) |
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| Sources: |
(1)
B. Bruun/ H. Delin/L. Svenson, Der Kosmos Vogelführer: Die Vögel
Deutschlands und Europas, 10th ed. Stuttgart: Franck-Kosmos, 1993,
pp. 90-91. |
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