Common Kestrel vs Messager sagittaire
Falco tinnunculus comparé à Sagittarius serpentarius
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Common Kestrel | Messager sagittaire |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Falco tinnunculus | Sagittarius serpentarius |
| Ordre | Falconiformes | Accipitriformes |
| Famille | Falconidae | Sagittariidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Endangered |
| Longueur | 34,0 cm (13.4 in) | 130,0 cm (51.2 in) |
| Envergure | 74,0 cm (29.1 in) | 210,0 cm (82.7 in) |
| Poids | 190,0 g (6.70 oz) | 3700,0 g (130.51 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Primarily voles and mice, also lizards, large insects, and small birds. Hunts by hovering at … | Snakes, lizards, small mammals, and large insects. Hunts on foot, stomping prey to death with … |
| Taille de la couvée | 1-7 | 1-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Habitats partagés
Aucun(e)
Common Kestrel only
Messager sagittaire only
Common Kestrel
Open country including farmland, grasslands, moorland, and urban areas. Common along motorways and in cities across Europe.
Messager sagittaire
Open grasslands, savannas, and light woodland across sub-Saharan Africa. Avoids dense forests and very arid regions.
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.
Messager sagittaire
A surprisingly deep, resonant croaking 'kowrr-kowrr' often heard at dawn on African savannas. Also gives pig-like grunting sounds. Mostly silent compared to true songbirds.
Geographic Range & Migration
Common Kestrel
Europe, Asia, and Africa. One of the most common and widespread raptors in the Old World.
Messager sagittaire
Sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal and Somalia south to South Africa. Resident throughout its range.
Statut de conservation
Common Kestrel
Messager sagittaire
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
Messager sagittaire
Grey body plumage with black flight feathers and thigh feathers. Distinctive long black crest feathers trail from the back of the head. Orange-red bare facial skin.
Short, strong, hooked greyish bill with a yellowish cere
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.
Messager sagittaire
The secretary bird is the only raptor that hunts primarily on foot, striding through grasslands on crane-like legs up to 1.2 meters tall. Its name may derive from the crest feathers resembling quill pens tucked behind a secretary's ear. The species is classified as Endangered due to habitat loss and decline across much of its range.