Volume 20, Plate VIII / Ornithology (Birds)

Kestrel

Falco tinnunculus

By far the most abundant and widely distributed British falcon, the Kestrel haunts ruined buildings, church spires, woods, and mountain ravines, scraping a hollow for its eggs or adopting old crow nests. Famous as the Windhover for hanging suspended on quivering wings, it feeds chiefly on mice, shrews, voles, lizards, and large beetles, even taking cockchafers on the wing; the male measures fourteen to fifteen inches with vinaceous back and bluish grey tail.