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Nankeen Kestrel


Nankeen Kestrel
Photo Information
Copyright: jon cody (darwin) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 245 W: 0 N: 447] (1690)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-10
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 40D, 100-400L is
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/800 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Falcons - II chapter [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-05-13 2:36
Viewed: 592
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Australian or Nankeen Kestrel, Falco cenchroides, is one of the smallest falcons, and unlike many, does not rely on speed to catch its prey. This bird is apparently a very close relative of the Common Kestrel, and probably also the Spotted Kestrel; it seems to have evolved of ancestral Common Kestrels dispersing to the Australian region in the Middle Pleistocene - less than 1 million years ago - and adapting to local conditions
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.

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.

A small, slim falcon (about 31 to 35 cm long), the Nankeen Kestrel is rufous or brown above and white or off-white below, with a black tail tip. Plumage varies considerably in detail, and some birds can look very scruffy, but the slim build, small size and distinctive straight-winged hovering habit make identification easy. (The only other Australasian raptors to hover are the elanid kites which are much lighter in colour and a little larger, and the Brown Falcon, which is much larger and more heavily built, and hovers only with difficulty). Altogether, it looks just like a pale, less patterned, and smaller derivate of the Common Kestrel
nellyemh, JPlumb, boreocypriensis, jaycee, nardophoto, CeltickRanger, dB_grafix, marhowie, smitha, inked, cookie10, MMM, Ken52, hester has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • jesst Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 353 W: 0 N: 163] (2092)
  • [2008-05-13 2:58]

Good shot and nice colors

Hi Jon
Nice capture of this handsome bird. I am surprised that small branch can hold his weight! Good colour, detail, composition and nice catchlight in his eye.
Cheers
Sue

Hi Jon - this is such an amazing bird. I love Kestrels. You've got a great shot here - good detail, depth of field - crop is very pleasing and the blue sky is a terrific contrast! Cheers, Penny

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 24 N: 4870] (15888)
  • [2008-05-13 3:40]

Hi Jon,
Wonderful shot of this elegant looking Nankeen Kestral. Lovely colours and details on its plumage and I like the calm pose presented. Superb natural lighting and exposure levels with the blue sky being a fabulous BG. Among those leaves it looks majestic. Excellent POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

I like that lens of your Jon. This is another great shot of a bird I haven't seen yet, only in pictures, and this is now one of the better ones. Great colour and colour contrasts with that blue sky. Detail is excellent with very good depth of field.

Thanks, John

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2487 W: 132 N: 7075] (22101)
  • [2008-05-13 5:09]

Hello Jon,
A fine close portrait of the Australian Kestrel, looking pretty sharp despite a few branches in the way. Nice POV and great pose and composition against a blue sky.
TFS this fine image,
Regards, Ivan

Hi Jon

Good shot of the kestrel, they're not easy to get near.
Good sharpness and composition against that lovely northern blue sky.

Chris

Hi Jon, splendid shot of this beautiful raptor, Nankeen Kestrel which I have not seen till now. All are perfect friend. TFS.
Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1681 W: 8 N: 4318] (14043)
  • [2008-05-13 9:28]

Hi Jon,

A beautiful shot of this Kestrel. He has such a nice expression on his fact that he doesn't look like a Raptor - he looks very elegant in that pose. Wonderful colors, fine details, and a lovely setting.

Jane

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1104 W: 59 N: 2243] (7437)
  • [2008-05-13 12:00]

Hello Jon,
Beautiful photo in great soft colours. Good composition, sharpness and POV.
Regards,
Peter

Hi jon,
thanks for share this beautiful falco specie.
TFS
Angelo

hello Jon

excellent image of this Kestrel, with fine POV, DOF and framing,
excellent sharpness and details of the plumage, and i love that
catch-light at the eye, TFS

Asbed

Good capture of this kestrel.Something I would like to see one day too.
The details stand out nicely in that light.
TFS
Doug

Hello Jon,
Great detail, nice warm color, exposure, and the blue BG works well..
Even with this partially obstructed POV, a good composition.
Well done & TFS,
Howard

  • Great 
  • inked Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 125 W: 0 N: 216] (638)
  • [2008-05-15 0:53]

hi Jon,
great shot of this kestrel.. i have a few of these not too far from me.. i'll get around to posting a shot eventually. great lighting, and nice pose captured. good detail with nice color. well cropped and composed too. nice work, tfs
Gethin

Hello Jon,
An excellent shot! Fine pose you have captured with the bird looking so tall and proud.Good sharpness and details.Lovely colours and contrasts.
Thanks for the share,
Smitha.

GOOD ONE I have tried unsucessfully on several ocassions to catch an image while one sat in a hedgerow. Now I can look at yours.

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 737 W: 0 N: 1497] (6754)
  • [2008-05-15 11:25]

Hi Jon
Excellent presentation.good POV and sharp image.detail is excellent.I also like your subject pose.
TFS Michel

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 507 W: 8 N: 1071] (3954)
  • [2008-05-15 22:04]

Hello Jon,
This Kestrel is very similar to the Kestrels we have here.
Great composition and colors.. Well done

Everton

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1292 W: 104 N: 4589] (20415)
  • [2008-05-16 7:18]

Great portrait of that Kestrel Jon! The proud pose is impressive and all the technical qualities are great! Well done my friend, thanks!

Mario

Hi Jon,

Very good capture of Nankeen Kestrel. Great pose and composition, sharp details and nice natural colours, good eye contact. With 100-400 only you got very very close, good guerilla work. Excellent good work in general.

TFS

Pekka

  • Great 
  • Ken52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 660 W: 98 N: 1249] (4153)
  • [2008-05-16 21:37]

Hi Jon,
Beautiful colors, nice detail, outstanding composition!

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1464 W: 18 N: 2950] (10828)
  • [2008-05-18 13:37]

Hi Jon

These are such attractive birds and your shot is sharp and detailed. The composition is wonderful and the blue BG really sets him off

TFS

Karan

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-05-20 20:42]

Hello Jon

This is a beautiful image of this kestrel.You managed an excellent perspective the pov is very good.I know how difficult it can be to approach these types of birds.
The details are sharp with very good plumage and eye detail.
Lovely colours and lighting.
TFS

Rob

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