Nankeen kestrel
Nankeen kestrel | |
---|---|
In flight | |
Female | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Falconiformes |
Family: | Falconidae |
Genus: | Falco |
Species: | F. cenchroides
|
Binomial name | |
Falco cenchroides |
The nankeen kestrel (Falco cenchroides), also known as the Australian kestrel, is a raptor native to Australia and New Guinea. It is one of the smallest falcons, and unlike many, does not rely on speed to catch its prey. Instead, it simply perches in an exposed position, but it also has a distinctive technique of hovering over crop and grasslands.
Taxonomy
The nankeen kestrel is a species of the genus Falco, allied to a subgenus Tinnunculus. They were first described by
The generic name is Late Latin falco 'falcon' (from falx falcis, 'sickle') and the specific epithet is derived from Ancient Greek kenkhris 'kestrel' and -oides 'resembling'. [3]
The common names Mosquito Hawk, Kestrel, Windhover, Hoverer are cited in the Australian Faunal Directory.[2][4] Its common descriptor refers to the colour of nankeen cloth, originally a yellowish cotton from Nankeen or Nanking (modern Nanjing), China.[5]
This bird is thought to be a very close relative of the
Two subspecies are recognised:
Description
The nankeen kestrel is a small, slim falcon 28 to 35 cm (11 to 14 in) long with a wingspan of 66 to 78 cm (26 to 31 in).
Distribution and habitat
A very common and easily seen raptor, the nankeen kestrel is found in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands, and is an irregular visitor to New Zealand. It occupies any type of land that is not too densely vegetated, but in particular temperate grasslands and open woodlands. In the tropical north and the sandy deserts of the west, it has a patchy and seasonal distribution. It can be seen in Western Australia on coastal cliffs and windy conditions. Also seen on phone lines and power lines.
Like many Australian birds, it has no clear migratory pattern: in the grasslands of the south, established pairs are resident year-round, but many other birds migrate north during the austral winter, or roam the arid interior following food supplies. Typically seen singly or in pairs, they can aggregate into loose flocks of up to 30 when conditions are right. Pairs are typically monogamous and may or may not disperse to different areas during the non-breeding season. The nest is any convenient structure: a tree hollow, cliff ledge or disused corvid's nest, for example, and is not modified or added to by the kestrels.
Feeding
Diet is varied, with a large number of insects, but also small birds and
Breeding
Three to seven eggs are laid in late winter (usually about four) and incubated by the female alone. Hatching takes place after 26 to 28 days, and the male brings food while the female continues to incubate until the young are close to fledging, at which time the female leaves the nest to hunt for them too. Multiple broods are raised in good seasons.
References
- . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Falco (Tinnunculus) cenchroides : Nankeen Kestrel". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). "Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird-names". Retrieved 2020-07-14.
- ^ ISBN 073222436-5
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary
- PMID 12414309.
- ^ . Retrieved 2020-07-14.
- ^
- ISBN 978174021417-9
Further reading
- Marchant, S.; Higgins, P.J., eds. (1993). "Falco cenchroides Australian kestrel" (PDF). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds Volume 2, Raptors to Lapwings. Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press. pp. 253–267. ISBN 978-0-19-553069-8.
External links
- Photos, audio and video of nankeen kestrel from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Macaulay Library
- Recordings of nankeen kestrel from Xeno-canto sound archive
- Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust- Rare vagrants to New Zealand