Grey Kestrel

The Grey Kestrel, a member of the falcon family Falconidae, is a bird of prey with a robust build and a distinctive large, flat-topped head. Adults typically measure 28–33 cm in length, with a wingspan ranging from 58–72 cm, and can weigh up to 300 grams. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females being 4-11% larger and 5-11% heavier than their male counterparts. The plumage is a uniform dark grey, save for the darker wingtips, faint streaks on the body, and slightly barred flight feathers. A notable feature is the yellow feet and cere, complemented by the bare yellow skin surrounding the eyes.

Identification Tips

To distinguish the Grey Kestrel from similar species, observe its head shape, which is less rounded than that of the Sooty Falcon. The wings of the Grey Kestrel are shorter, not extending past the tail when the bird is at rest, and the yellow around the eye is less pronounced. Juvenile Grey Kestrels are browner with a greenish cere and eye area, while juvenile Dickinson's Kestrels, which are similar in appearance, have a barred tail and more pronounced barring on the underwing.

Habitat

The Grey Kestrel favors savannas, open woodlands, and forest clearings, with a particular affinity for palm trees, especially near water sources. It is often seen perched on exposed branches, telegraph poles, and wires.

Distribution

This species is widespread across West and Central Africa, avoiding densely forested regions such as the Congo Basin. Its range extends east to Ethiopia and into western Kenya and Tanzania, reaching as far south as northern Namibia and Zambia. Vagrants have been recorded in Malawi. The total range encompasses approximately 12 million km². In West Africa, the Grey Kestrel exhibits seasonal movements, heading northward during the wet season and southward in the dry season.

Behaviour

The Grey Kestrel is crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk. It typically hunts from a high perch, but it is also known to hover. Its diet consists mainly of insects, lizards, and small mammals, including bats, but it will also consume birds, amphibians, and worms. Prey is generally captured on the ground. Uniquely, this raptor sometimes feeds on oil palm nuts, one of the few birds of prey to consume vegetable matter.

Breeding

Breeding takes place from March to June in the northern part of its range and from August to December in the southern regions. Courtship involves mutual soaring displays. The Grey Kestrel often lays its eggs in the nests of Hamerkops, sometimes usurping them, but may also use other birds' nests or tree cavities. Clutches typically contain two to five whitish eggs with reddish or brown markings, which are incubated for 26–31 days. Fledging occurs after approximately 30 days.

Conservation status

The Grey Kestrel is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not at immediate risk of population decline or extinction.