Common Kestrel vs Black Falcon
Falco tinnunculus compared with Falco subniger
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Common Kestrel | Black Falcon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Falco tinnunculus | Falco subniger |
| 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) | 75.0 cm (29.5 in) |
| Weight | 190.0 g (6.70 oz) | 725.25 g (25.58 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily voles and mice, also lizards, large insects, and small birds. Hunts by hovering at … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-7 | 1-5 |
| 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.
Black Falcon
Geographic Range & Migration
Common Kestrel
Europe, Asia, and Africa. One of the most common and widespread raptors in the Old World.
Black Falcon
Conservation Status
Common Kestrel
Black Falcon
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
Black Falcon
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.
Black Falcon
The Black Falcon is a large, uniformly dark-brown to blackish raptor with a streamlined build and long, pointed wings adapted for high-speed aerial pursuit. It is endemic to Australia, inhabiting open plains, lightly timbered grasslands, and arid scrublands, particularly in the interior. It hunts birds and large insects with remarkable speed and agility, often taking prey in flight.