Common Kestrel

Falco tinnunculus (Linnaeus, 1758)

		male female
2013-09-25 Semipalatinsk 2015-10-16 Almaty. Dendropark.	© Aleksandr Feldman © Askar Isabekov

Distribution

Breeds everywhere in Kazakhstan; prefers the plains and river valleys with trees and shrubs vegetation, the xerophytic mountains and highlands (at Bolshoye Almatinskoye lake, 2700-2800 m). On migration occurs everywhere. Rare winters in south and south-east, sometimes in vicinities of Semipalatinsk, and Zerenda.

Biology

Kestrel is common breeding migrant. Inhabits the forest-steppes, steppes and deserts with groves, riparian woods, shelterbelts, clay and rock precipices surrounding the open areas; the low mountains, foothills and highlands in places with forests and grass slopes. In spring appears in March – early April, at Chokpak Pass the migration continues in April and finishes in mid-May. Breeds in separate pairs or very rare in small groups of 5-10 pairs. Kestrel very rarely builds the nest on their own, more often uses the old nests of Crows, Magpies, Rooks, Kites, Eagles. Nests may be placed on trees, bushes, in cavity of precipice or rock. Clutches of 3-7 eggs is in April or in early May. Female incubates mostly, but male relays female on short time, and brings the food. Incubating lasts about a month from the laying of the first egg. Chicks are born in mid May – June, both parents feed them and they fledge in end May – July. Re-laying after the loss of first clutch is possible. The autumn migration singly or in small loose groups begins in mid August. From northern Kazakhstan Kestrels disappear in mid-September, but at Chokpak Pass the most active traffic of migration is from the third decade of September to second decade of October, the latest birds observed in early November.

Subspecies

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.