Common Kestrel vs American Kestrel
Falco tinnunculus compared with Falco sparverius
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Common Kestrel | American Kestrel |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Falco tinnunculus | Falco sparverius |
| Order | Falconiformes | Falconiformes |
| Family | Falconidae | Falconidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 34.0 cm (13.4 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 74.0 cm (29.1 in) | 36.5 cm (14.4 in) |
| Weight | 190.0 g (6.70 oz) | 119.33333333333333 g (4.21 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily voles and mice, also lizards, large insects, and small birds. Hunts by hovering at … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-7 | 1-7 |
| 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.
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.
American Kestrel
Geographic Range & Migration
Common Kestrel
Europe, Asia, and Africa. One of the most common and widespread raptors in the Old World.
American Kestrel
Conservation Status
Common Kestrel
American Kestrel
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
American Kestrel
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.
American Kestrel
The American Kestrel is North America's smallest falcon, weighing about 119 g with a 36.5 cm wingspan, with strikingly patterned rufous and slate-blue plumage. It hovers over open fields and roadsides to spot grasshoppers, small rodents, and lizards before diving to strike.