Common Kestrel vs Common Nightingale
Falco tinnunculus compared with Luscinia megarhynchos
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Common Kestrel | Common Nightingale |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Falco tinnunculus | Luscinia megarhynchos |
| Order | Falconiformes | Passeriformes |
| Family | Falconidae | Muscicapidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 34.0 cm (13.4 in) | 16.5 cm (6.5 in) |
| Wingspan | 74.0 cm (29.1 in) | 25.0 cm (9.8 in) |
| Weight | 190.0 g (6.70 oz) | 21.0 g (0.74 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily voles and mice, also lizards, large insects, and small birds. Hunts by hovering at … | Insects and larvae, supplemented with berries in autumn. Forages on or near the ground in … |
| Clutch Size | 1-7 | 4-5 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Common Kestrel only
Common Nightingale only
Common Kestrel
Open country including farmland, grasslands, moorland, and urban areas. Common along motorways and in cities across Europe.
Common Nightingale
Dense thickets, scrub, and undergrowth in deciduous woodland. Prefers areas with thick ground cover near water.
Song & Call Comparison
Common Kestrel
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.
Common Nightingale
Considered Europe's finest songster: an extraordinarily rich, loud, flute-like melody of bubbling trills, slow whistles, and a distinctive crescendo 'lu-lu-lu'. Sings day and night.
Geographic Range & Migration
Common Kestrel
Europe, Asia, and Africa. One of the most common and widespread raptors in the Old World.
Common Nightingale
Breeds in Europe and western Asia. Winters in sub-Saharan Africa. A long-distance migrant crossing the Sahara.
Conservation Status
Common Kestrel
Common Nightingale
How to Tell Them Apart
Common Kestrel
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.
Short, hooked grey bill with a yellow cere
Common Nightingale
Plain warm brown upperparts with a rufous-chestnut tail. Pale greyish-white underparts. Unremarkable appearance belies its remarkable voice.
Thin, pointed, dark brown bill
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.
Common Nightingale
The common nightingale is celebrated as one of the finest songsters in the bird world, inspiring poets from Homer to Keats. Males sing complex phrases of over 250 different types, often at night during breeding season. Despite its famous song, the nightingale is a plain-looking bird that skulks in dense vegetation.