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Kestrel


Kestrel
Photo Information
Copyright: Pekka Valo (pekkavalo1) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 453 W: 58 N: 2111] (6749)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-06-25
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III, Canon EF 400mm f4.0 DO IS USM, RAW ISO 800, Canon EF 1.4x Extender II
Exposure: f/13.0, 1/1250 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite Bird of Prey photos [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-06-28 2:24
Viewed: 532
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
A male Common Kestrel at RSPB Elmley Marshes nature reserve.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It is also known as the European Kestrel, Eurasian Kestrel, or Old World Kestrel. In Britain, where no other brown falcon occurs, it is generally just called "the Kestrel".
This species occurs over a large range. It is widespread in Europe, Asia, and Africa, as well as occasionally reaching the east coast of North America. The Common Kestrel is small compared with other birds of prey, but larger than most songbirds. Kestrels have long wings as well as a distinctive long tail like the other Falco species. This bird's plumage is mainly brown with dark spots. Unlike most hawks they display sexual colour dimorphism with the male having a blue-grey head and tail. The tail is brown with black bars in females, and has a black tip with a narrow white rim in both sexes. All Common Kestrels sexes have a prominent black malar stripe like their closest relatives.

Common Kestrels measure 34 – 38 cm (~13 – 15 in) from head to tail, with a wingspan of 70 – 80 cm (~27 – 31 in). The average adult male weighs around 155 g (~5½ oz) with the adult female weighing around 184 g (~6½ oz).

Behaviour
This is a diurnal animal and prefers an "open country" habitat such as fields, heaths, and marshland. When hunting, the Common Kestrel hovers about 10 – 20 m (≈33 – 66 ft) above the ground, searching for prey, usually by flying into the wind or using thermals from ridges. Once prey is sighted, the bird makes a short, steep dive toward the target. It can often be found hunting along the sides of roads and motorways. It has recently been shown that it is able to see near ultraviolet light. This allows them to detect the urine trails around rodent burrows, which reflect ultraviolet light.

Prey
Kestrels prey upon small mammals, including voles, as well as small birds, large insects, earthworms, and frogs. Like most birds of prey, Kestrels have keen eyesight enabling them to spot small prey from a distance. Kestrels require the equivalent of 4-8 voles a day, depending on energy expenditure (time of the year, amount of hovering, etc). They have been known to catch several voles in succession and to store some for later consumption.

In built-up areas Kestrels will often nest on buildings or reuse the old nests of crows.
Vinster, Silvio2006, SelenE, jaycee, CeltickRanger, darwin, goldyrs, Royaldevon has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1126 W: 32 N: 1113] (3440)
  • [2008-06-28 2:26]

Hi Pekka,
Excellent in flight capture.Details,colors,lighting and framing are wonderful.
Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1367 W: 56 N: 4680] (16082)
  • [2008-06-28 2:28]

Hello Pekka,
Great portrait of this falcon with good framing and colors.
Best regards
Sieggi

Hi Pekka,
what a lovely capture of this kestral. very good viewpoint to show the underside of this raptor, the details are so vivid and good composition too. your comments are more valuble too. TFS
nagraj.v

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1381 W: 126 N: 5246] (23469)
  • [2008-06-28 6:00]

Hello Pekka! Great capture of the Kestrel flying! Well composed, very sharp and the exposure is fabulous, well done, thanks!

Mario

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 63 N: 4226] (13820)
  • [2008-06-28 7:36]

Hi Pekka,
Nice in-flight of this kestrel with good POV, lighting and details. TFS
Greetings,
Selen

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-06-28 9:40]

Hi Pekka,

Wow - this Kestrel in flight is marvelous. I love the vertical position of the wings. Exceptionally sharp details of the face and the entire bird. Wonderful natural colors and a nice sky for the background.

Jane

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2008-06-28 13:51]

Excellent in-flight shot, Pekka!
You've exposed this perfectly.
Sharp with great detail.
Brilliant pose.

Cheers!

Joe

p.s can't wait for Monday! :-)

Hi Pekka
Great inflight action shot with fine detail and nice natural color
tfs jon

Ciao Pekka, an other superb flying bird with wonderful details, good focus and great sharpness, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

A lovely in flight shot, pekka.
Cheers!
Goldy

What a perfect, in flight, shot, Pekka!
The plummage details are excellent.
Good composition with plenty of room for him to move into.

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2008-06-29 21:55]

Hello Pekka
Nice view and good shot of this bird on the move. Well done
ganesh

hello Pekka

superb in-flight shot of the Kestrel, with fine POV and framing,
i love his flight pose on the air and alos the 2 toned background,
great sharpness andetails of its wonderful plumage, TFS

Asbed

Hello Pekka , very successful photo for f:13 and this fast flying Kestrel , TFS .

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