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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute	Crested Caracara	Common Kestrel
Scientific Name	Caracara plancus	Falco tinnunculus
Order	Falconiformes	Falconiformes
Family	Falconidae	Falconidae
Conservation Status	Least Concern	Least Concern
Length	—	34.0 cm (13.4 in)
Wingspan	75.7 cm (29.8 in)	74.0 cm (29.1 in)
Weight	1129.8333333333333 g (39.85 oz)	190.0 g (6.70 oz)
Diet	--	Primarily voles and mice, also lizards, large insects, and small birds. Hunts by hovering at …
Clutch Size	1-4	1-7
Population Trend	—	—

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Size Comparison

Body Length

Crested Caracara —

Common Kestrel 34.0 cm

Wingspan

Crested Caracara 75.7 cm

Common Kestrel 74.0 cm

Weight

Crested Caracara 1129.8333333333333 g

Common Kestrel 190.0 g

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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

🌾 Grassland

Crested Caracara only

None

Common Kestrel only

🏖️ Coastal 🌿 Wetland

Common Kestrel

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

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Song & Call Comparison

Crested Caracara

Common Kestrel

Song

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.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Crested Caracara

Common Kestrel

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

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Conservation Status

Least Concern

Crested Caracara

Least Concern

Common Kestrel

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How to Tell Them Apart

Crested Caracara

Common Kestrel

Plumage

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.

Bill

Short, hooked grey bill with a yellow cere

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About These Birds

Crested Caracara

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.

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Related Comparisons

Peregrine Falcon vs Common Kestrel

same-family

Resplendent Quetzal vs Common Kestrel

look-alike

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