Common Kestrel vs Emu
Falco tinnunculus comparé à Dromaius novaehollandiae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Common Kestrel | Emu |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Falco tinnunculus | Dromaius novaehollandiae |
| Ordre | Falconiformes | Casuariiformes |
| Famille | Falconidae | Dromaiidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | 34,0 cm (13.4 in) | 175,0 cm (68.9 in) |
| Envergure | 74,0 cm (29.1 in) | 20,0 cm (7.9 in) |
| Poids | 190,0 g (6.70 oz) | 45000,0 g (1587.33 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Primarily voles and mice, also lizards, large insects, and small birds. Hunts by hovering at … | Plants, seeds, fruits, flowers, and insects. Swallows large stones and charcoal to grind food in … |
| Taille de la couvée | 1-7 | 5-24 |
| 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.
Emu
Open grasslands, savanna woodlands, scrublands, and semi-arid plains across Australia. Avoids dense forest and true desert.
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.
Emu
Deep, resonant booming grunt 'e-moo', often repeated 3 times. Females give a deep drumming call produced by an inflatable throat pouch. Generally low-pitched and far-carrying.
Geographic Range & Migration
Common Kestrel
Europe, Asia, and Africa. One of the most common and widespread raptors in the Old World.
Emu
Throughout mainland Australia. Absent from Tasmania, where the Tasmanian emu was driven to extinction by 1850.
Statut de conservation
Common Kestrel
Emu
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
Emu
Shaggy grey-brown plumage with double-shafted feathers giving a loose, hair-like appearance. Bare blue skin on the face and neck.
Broad, flat, dark grey 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.
Emu
The emu is the second-tallest living bird and the largest bird native to Australia. It is the only bird with calf muscles, enabling powerful running at up to 50 km/h. In the famous Emu War of 1932, the Australian military was deployed against crop-raiding emus — and the emus arguably won.