Common Kestrel vs Common Starling
Falco tinnunculus comparado com Sturnus vulgaris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Atributo | Common Kestrel | Common Starling |
|---|---|---|
| Nome científico | Falco tinnunculus | Sturnus vulgaris |
| Ordem | Falconiformes | Passeriformes |
| Família | Falconidae | Sturnidae |
| Estado de conservação | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Comprimento | 34,0 cm (13.4 in) | 21,5 cm (8.5 in) |
| Envergadura | 74,0 cm (29.1 in) | 37,0 cm (14.6 in) |
| Peso | 190,0 g (6.70 oz) | 78,0 g (2.75 oz) |
| Dieta | Primarily voles and mice, also lizards, large insects, and small birds. Hunts by hovering at … | Omnivorous — insects and larvae (especially leatherjackets), earthworms, fruit, and seeds. Probes soil with open … |
| Tamanho da postura | 1-7 | 4-7 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Habitats partilhados
Common Kestrel only
Nenhum
Common Starling only
Nenhum
Common Kestrel
Open country including farmland, grasslands, moorland, and urban areas. Common along motorways and in cities across Europe.
Common Starling
Open countryside, farmland, parks, and urban areas. Forms enormous communal roosts in winter, especially in urban environments.
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.
Common Starling
A complex mimic: rattles, whistles, clicks, and squeaks mixed with imitations of other birds. Song is a continuous medley. Also gives harsh 'scheer' alarm and chattering.
Geographic Range & Migration
Common Kestrel
Europe, Asia, and Africa. One of the most common and widespread raptors in the Old World.
Common Starling
Native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. Introduced to North America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Estado de conservação
Common Kestrel
Common Starling
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
Common Starling
Glossy black plumage with iridescent purple and green sheen in breeding season. Winter plumage shows white spotting. Short tail and pointed wings in flight.
Long, pointed bill — yellow in breeding season, dark in winter
About These Birds
Common Kestrel
Peneireiro-vulgar (Falco tinnunculus) — 32-38 cm. Falcão mais comum da Europa e Ásia, reconhecível pelo pairar estacionário com batimento rápido de asas enquanto caça. Macho com cabeça e cauda cinzentas e dorso castanho avermelhado manchado; fêmea mais barrada. Habita campos abertos, zonas costeiras e áreas urbanas. Alimenta-se de pequenos mamíferos, insetos e lagartos.
Common Starling
Estorninho-malhado (Sturnus vulgaris) — 19-22 cm. Distribuído pela Europa e Ásia, introduzido na América do Norte, Austrália e África do Sul. Plumagem negra com reflexo metálico verde e roxo, com pontas brancas no inverno. Voo em bandos enormes (murmuração) é espetáculo notável. Excelente imitador. Omnívoro adaptável a ambientes urbanos e agrícolas.