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Nankeen Kestrel
Falco cenchroides
-17.0496, 123.623
Field Notes
Description:
Unsure if this is a juvenile...they have heavier streaking on their chest than the adults but are more similar to the female. The upper parts are mostly rufous, with some dark streaking. The wings are tipped with black. The underparts are pale buff, streaked with black, and the under tail is finely barred with black, with a broader black band towards the tip. Females tend to be more heavily marked and have more rufous on the crown and tail. Males have a greyish crown and tail, although the extent varies between individuals. Females are larger than males. Young Nankeen Kestrels closely resemble the adult female, with heavier markings.
Habitat:
It was coming up dark so the light from the sunset was just beautiful. This stunning Kestrel was sitting quietly in the tree just off the track at Point Torment. The location is approximate.
Notes:
These pics are cropped due to the large amount of nothing that was in the original pic. The 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. They are 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. - Wiki
Reference: The Michael Morcombe eGuide to Australian Birds, Mobile App.
Further reference: http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/bird-profile/nankeen-kestrel
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