Status and distribution:
By far the most numerous
falcon in the region. A common breeding bird throughout Europe from the British
Is and northern Norway south to the Mediterranean and the major Mediterranean
islands and from Iberia east to Russia. Also found throughout Turkey and Syria,
northern Iraq and Israel, and breeds across North Africa from Morocco to the
Nile Valley. Northern and eastern populations are migratory, the remainder
resident or with the young birds dispersive. Autumn passage extends from
August-November and birds return to southern parts of breeding range in
February and as late as June in the north. Kestrels are broad-front migrants
but are seen in good numbers along the major migration routes. Out of the
breeding range the Kestrel has occurred as a vagrant north to Iceland, the
Faroes and Svalbard and also south to the Azores.
Subspecies:
The nominate race is present over most
of the Western Palearctic but birds in Egypt and parts of the Middle East are
of the smaller and more brightly-coloured race rupicolaeformis. The small and
dark canariensis is found on Madeira and the western Canary Islands and the
paler , more heavily-spotted dacotiae in the eastern Canary Islands. Again
small and dark, the race neglectus occurs in the northern Cape Verde Is and the
larger and more rufous alexandri in the south-east of the group.
Habitat:
Today a familiar bird along motorway verges
and on farmland but also found in a wide range of open habitats. Requires
trees, rocks or buildings for nesting and open grassland, heathland or
cultivation with an abundant supply of voles and other small rodents.
DO NOT ASSUME A
ZOO WILL TAKE THIS ANIMAL OFF YOU IN THE FUTURE - THEY WILL
NOT.
|
| |
|