Common kestrel

Falco tinnunculus
Common kestrel
Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY, Wikimedia Commons
Common kestrel
Photo: Fischer.H, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
Common kestrel
Photo: Alexey V. Kurochkin, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons

About

The Common kestrel is the most noticeable of the small falcons. Its body length is 32–39 cm, and its wingspan is 65–82 cm. The male has a gray head and a gray tail with a black band at the end, while the back is brick-red with dark spots. The female is larger, entirely reddish-brown with transverse stripes.

The main feature is its hunting method. The bird hovers in the air against the wind, often fluttering its wings, spreading its tail like a fan, and gazing into the grass. Upon spotting prey, it drops down like a stone. This 'struggle with the wind' is how it got its Ukrainian name.

The Common kestrel hunts voles and mice, as well as large insects and lizards. Therefore, it needs open spaces: meadows, pastures, fields, and clearings. In the Carpathians, it can be seen over hayfields in the valleys, over mountain meadows, and polonynas.

The falcon does not build its own nest. It occupies old nests of crows and magpies, rock niches, attics, bell towers, and towers. The clutch usually contains four to six eggs.

Some birds winter in Ukraine, while others migrate south. It can be distinguished from the buzzard, which also sometimes hovers over the meadow, by its smaller size, narrow sharp wings, and long tail.

Where in the Carpathians

fewermore10 028 records in the Carpathians

Orange — where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0/CC BY); a blank area does not mean it is absent.

Countries
Ukraine · Czechia · Slovakia · Poland · Romania · Hungary · Austria · Serbia · BG
Mountain ranges
In other countries: 🇸🇰 Western Tatras, 🇸🇰 High Tatras, 🇨🇿 Moravian-Silesian Beskids, 🇸🇰 Low Tatras, 🇵🇱 Żywiec Beskids, 🇸🇰 Slovak Ore Mountains, 🇸🇰 Lesser Fatra, 🇵🇱 Silesian Beskids, 🇸🇰 Greater Fatra, 🇷🇴 Piatra Craiului, 🇷🇴 Trascău and Metaliferi Mountains, 🇷🇴 Bucegi Mountains, 🇸🇰 Little Carpathians, 🇷🇴 Făgăraș Mountains
Altitude belts
Foothills (below 600 m)

When to see it

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sightings

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Protection and rules

Not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. All birds of prey in Ukraine are protected: shooting them and destroying their nests is prohibited.

FAQ

Which bird hovers in the air over the meadow?

Most often, it is the Common kestrel. It flutters its wings in one place against the wind and looks for voles in the grass.

How to distinguish the Common kestrel from the buzzard?

The Common kestrel is significantly smaller, has narrow sharp wings and a long tail, and its back is reddish. The buzzard is large, broad-winged, with a short rounded tail, usually circles, and rarely hovers.

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Similar species

Common buzzardCommon buzzardButeo buteoThe most numerous bird of prey in Ukraine. It circles over the polonynas and meadows with a mournful 'ki-ya' and hunts for voles.
Golden eagleRed Data Book of UkraineIn season nowGolden eagleAquila chrysaetosThe largest eagle of the Carpathians. In the Ukrainian Carpathians, only 10–15 pairs nest — a vulnerable species in the Red Book of Ukraine.
Red-backed shrikeRed-backed shrikeLanius collurioA small bird with a black 'mask' that hunts insects and impales its prey on thorns. It stays in bushes among meadows and pastures.

Where to meet it

Trails

Kamianytsia village, via Antalovetska Poliana and Yarok village to UzhhorodHardOne-dayKamianytsia village to Uzhhorodvia Antalovetska Poliana, Yarok villageElevation profile117–968 m28.9 kmascent 909 m≈ 8.5 h walkingNo. 5018 Storm Gate: Hrozova village – Mount Magura-LimnianskaEasyOne-dayMarkedNo. 5018 Storm Gate: Hrozova village Mount Magura-LimnianskaElevation profile546–1 022 m3.6 kmascent 486 m≈ 1.5 h walkingVolovets – Mount TemnatykModerateOne-dayVolovets Mount TemnatykElevation profile492–1 343 m9.8 kmascent 997 m≈ 4 h walkingVolovets, via Mount Plai and Mount Temnatyk to VolovetsModerateOne-dayVolovets loopvia Mount Plai, Mount TemnatykElevation profile483–1 343 m17.2 kmascent 1 102 m≈ 6 h walkingVolovets – Mount PlaiModerateOne-dayVolovets Mount PlaiElevation profile487–1 332 m8.3 kmascent 839 m≈ 3.5 h walkingVolovets – Mount Plai – VolovetsModerateOne-dayVolovets loopvia Mount PlaiElevation profile484–1 332 m16.4 kmascent 845 m≈ 5.5 h walking
Volovets – Mount Tsytska – VolovetsModerateOne-dayVolovets loopvia Mount TsytskaElevation profile483–1 300 m14.8 kmascent 919 m≈ 5 h walkingVolovets – Mount PlaiModerateOne-dayMarkedVolovets Mount PlaiElevation profile487–1 331 m8.4 kmascent 849 m≈ 3.5 h walkingZanka railway halt, via Mount Temnatyk and Mount Tsytska to VolovetsModerateOne-dayMarkedZanka railway halt to Volovetsvia Mount Temnatyk, Mount TsytskaElevation profile409–1 343 m11.9 kmascent 934 m≈ 4.5 h walking

Waters and waterfalls

City Lake, Ivano-FrankivskLakeCity Lake, Ivano-FrankivskIvano-FrankivskThe City Lake(also known as the StanislavskeSea ) is the largest artificial lake (pond) in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk.Sukil WaterfallsWaterfallSukil WaterfallsSukilNear the village of Sukil in the Bohorodchany urban hromada, the Sukil Waterfalls are truly a paradise for tourists...Boryslav waterfallWaterfallBoryslav waterfallBoryslavThe Young Boryslav Waterfall is a small waterfall (falling height is about two meters).

Mountain ranges: In other countries: 🇸🇰 Western Tatras, 🇸🇰 High Tatras, 🇨🇿 Moravian-Silesian Beskids, 🇸🇰 Low Tatras, 🇵🇱 Żywiec Beskids, 🇸🇰 Slovak Ore Mountains, 🇸🇰 Lesser Fatra, 🇵🇱 Silesian Beskids, 🇸🇰 Greater Fatra, 🇷🇴 Piatra Craiului, 🇷🇴 Trascău and Metaliferi Mountains, 🇷🇴 Bucegi Mountains, 🇸🇰 Little Carpathians, 🇷🇴 Făgăraș Mountains

Trails and peaks near which naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, iNaturalist), matched by altitude and habitat. Sightings are not guaranteed.

Sources

GBIF · iNaturalist · Wikidata · Distribution data: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY records), iNaturalist; names and identifiers: Wikidata (CC0). Text: Karpaty.rocks, checked 11.11.2026.