Common Kestrel vs Emperor Penguin
Falco tinnunculus compared with Aptenodytes forsteri
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Common Kestrel | Emperor Penguin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Falco tinnunculus | Aptenodytes forsteri |
| Order | Falconiformes | Sphenisciformes |
| Family | Falconidae | Spheniscidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | 34.0 cm (13.4 in) | 115.0 cm (45.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 74.0 cm (29.1 in) | 76.0 cm (29.9 in) |
| Weight | 190.0 g (6.70 oz) | 30000.0 g (1058.22 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily voles and mice, also lizards, large insects, and small birds. Hunts by hovering at … | Primarily Antarctic silverfish, krill, and squid. The deepest-diving bird, reaching depths over 500 meters and … |
| Clutch Size | 1-7 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Common Kestrel
Open country including farmland, grasslands, moorland, and urban areas. Common along motorways and in cities across Europe.
Emperor Penguin
Antarctic pack ice and surrounding Southern Ocean. The only penguin species that breeds during the Antarctic winter.
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.
Emperor Penguin
Loud, resonant trumpeting calls used for individual recognition in dense colonies. Each bird's call is unique in frequency. Also gives softer contact 'braying' notes.
Geographic Range & Migration
Common Kestrel
Europe, Asia, and Africa. One of the most common and widespread raptors in the Old World.
Emperor Penguin
Antarctic continent and surrounding sea ice. Breeding colonies are found along the entire Antarctic coastline.
Conservation Status
Common Kestrel
Emperor Penguin
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
Emperor Penguin
Black head, chin, and dorsal side with white belly. Bright yellow-orange ear patches fade to pale yellow on the upper breast.
Long, slightly decurved bill — black with orange or pink mandible stripe
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.
Emperor Penguin
The emperor penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all penguin species. They breed in the harshest conditions on Earth, enduring Antarctic winter temperatures of -60 C and wind speeds of 200 km/h. Males incubate the single egg on their feet under a brood pouch for about 65 days while fasting.