Kestrel #2 is a photograph by Chris Smith which was uploaded on August 18th, 2014.
Title
Kestrel #2
Artist
Chris Smith
Medium
Photograph
Description
Photography based digital art image
Kestrel in flight with a blue sky,
Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behaviour which is to hover at a height of around 1020 metres (3366 ft) over open country and swoop down on prey, usually small mammals, lizards or large insects. Other falcons are more adapted to active hunting on the wing. In addition, kestrels are notable for usually having much brown in their plumage.
Kestrels can fly in stationary air, even indoors in barns. While hovering they face towards any slight headwind, leading to the Common Kestrel being called a "Windhover" in some areas.
Unusually for falcons, plumage often differs between male and female, although as is usual with monogamous raptors the female is slightly larger than the male. This allows a pair to fill different feeding niches over their home range. Kestrels are bold and have adapted well to human encroachment, nesting in buildings and hunting by major roads. Kestrels do not build their own nests, but use nests built by other species.
Uploaded
August 18th, 2014
More from Chris Smith
Comments (14)
Recently Viewed
