Common Kestrel vs Peregrine Falcon

Falco tinnunculus مقارنةً بـ Falco peregrinus

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Side-by-side Comparison Table ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة Common Kestrel Peregrine Falcon
الاسم العلمي Falco tinnunculus Falco peregrinus
الرتبة Falconiformes Falconiformes
الفصيلة Falconidae Falconidae
حالة الحفاظ Least Concern Least Concern
الطول 34,0 cm (13.4 in) 43,0 cm (16.9 in)
طول الجناح 74,0 cm (29.1 in) 104,0 cm (40.9 in)
الوزن 190,0 g (6.70 oz) 750,0 g (26.46 oz)
النظام الغذائي Primarily voles and mice, also lizards, large insects, and small birds. Hunts by hovering at … Almost exclusively medium-sized birds caught in flight, including pigeons, doves, waterfowl, and songbirds. Hunts with …
عدد البيض في الوضع 1-7 2-4
Population Trend
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Visual Size Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Size Comparison

Body Length
Common Kestrel 34,0 cm
Peregrine Falcon 43,0 cm
طول الجناح
Common Kestrel 74,0 cm
Peregrine Falcon 104,0 cm
الوزن
Common Kestrel 190,0 g
Peregrine Falcon 750,0 g
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Habitat Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Habitat Comparison

الموائل المشتركة

Common Kestrel only

بلا

Peregrine Falcon only

Common Kestrel

Open country including farmland, grasslands, moorland, and urban areas. Common along motorways and in cities across Europe.

Peregrine Falcon

Diverse habitats from tundra to tropics, typically near cliffs or tall structures. Increasingly found in cities nesting on skyscrapers and bridges.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Song & Call Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Song & Call Comparison

Common Kestrel

الغناء

A shrill, repeated 'kee-kee-kee-kee' or 'kik-ik-ik', especially near nest. Alarm call is a nasal chattering. Generally less vocal than larger falcons. Calls ring clearly in open country.

Peregrine Falcon

الغناء

A harsh, wailing 'kak-kak-kak-kak' repeated rapidly in defense of the nest. Alarm call is a long screaming 'raaak'. Mostly silent away from breeding sites.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Geographic Range & Migration ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Geographic Range & Migration

Common Kestrel

Europe, Asia, and Africa. One of the most common and widespread raptors in the Old World.

Peregrine Falcon

One of the most widespread birds, found on every continent except Antarctica. Migratory populations travel vast distances between breeding and wintering grounds.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Conservation Status Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

حالة الحفاظ

Least Concern

Common Kestrel

Least Concern

Peregrine Falcon

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

How to Tell Them Apart

Common Kestrel

الريش

Males have a blue-grey head and tail with a rufous back spotted with black. Females are rufous-brown with heavy barring. Both have a dark moustachial stripe.

المنقار

Short, hooked grey bill with a yellow cere

Peregrine Falcon

الريش

Blue-grey upperparts with barred white underparts. A distinctive black moustachial stripe contrasts with the white throat and cheeks.

المنقار

Short, notched blue-grey bill with a yellow cere

Key Differences

  • • Weight: Peregrine Falcon (750g) vs Common Kestrel (190g)
  • • Length: Peregrine Falcon (43 cm) vs Common Kestrel (34 cm)
  • • Wingspan: Peregrine Falcon (104 cm) vs Common Kestrel (74 cm)
  • • Habitat: Peregrine Falcon prefers Diverse habitats from tundra to tropics, typically near clif; Common Kestrel prefers Open country including farmland, grasslands, moorland, and u
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ About Each Bird (Descriptions) ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

About These Birds

Common Kestrel

The common kestrel is Europe's most abundant falcon, famous for its ability to hover motionless in the wind while scanning for prey. Research has shown kestrels can see ultraviolet light, allowing them to detect vole urine trails that reflect UV. The species has adapted remarkably well to urban environments.

Peregrine Falcon

The peregrine falcon is the fastest animal on Earth, reaching speeds over 389 km/h during its characteristic hunting stoop. Like the bald eagle, peregrines suffered dramatic declines from DDT but have recovered through intensive conservation programs. They have adapted remarkably well to urban environments.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Related Comparisons ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Related Comparisons

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ More Birds in Family ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family