Common Kestrel vs African Pygmy-falcon
Falco tinnunculus compared with Polihierax semitorquatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Common Kestrel | African Pygmy-falcon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Falco tinnunculus | Polihierax semitorquatus |
| 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) | 23.1 cm (9.1 in) |
| Weight | 190.0 g (6.70 oz) | 60.7 g (2.14 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily voles and mice, also lizards, large insects, and small birds. Hunts by hovering at … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-7 | 2-4 |
| 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.
African Pygmy-falcon
Geographic Range & Migration
Common Kestrel
Europe, Asia, and Africa. One of the most common and widespread raptors in the Old World.
African Pygmy-falcon
Conservation Status
Common Kestrel
African Pygmy-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
African Pygmy-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.
African Pygmy-falcon
The African Pygmy-falcon is one of Africa's smallest raptors, with a wingspan of about 23 cm and a weight of around 61 g. It inhabits dry savannas and thornbush, often nesting in the large communal nests of weaver birds, and hunts lizards and large insects.