Common Kestrel vs Resplendent Quetzal

Falco tinnunculus comparado com Pharomachrus mocinno

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Side-by-side Comparison Table ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Side-by-Side Comparison

Atributo Common Kestrel Resplendent Quetzal
Nome científico Falco tinnunculus Pharomachrus mocinno
Ordem Falconiformes Trogoniformes
Família Falconidae Trogonidae
Estado de conservação Least Concern Near Threatened
Comprimento 34,0 cm (13.4 in) 36,0 cm (14.2 in)
Envergadura 74,0 cm (29.1 in) 50,0 cm (19.7 in)
Peso 190,0 g (6.70 oz) 210,0 g (7.41 oz)
Dieta Primarily voles and mice, also lizards, large insects, and small birds. Hunts by hovering at … Primarily wild avocados and other laurel family fruits, supplemented with insects, lizards, and frogs. A …
Tamanho da postura 1-7 1-2
Population Trend
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Visual Size Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Size Comparison

Body Length
Common Kestrel 34,0 cm
Resplendent Quetzal 36,0 cm
Envergadura
Common Kestrel 74,0 cm
Resplendent Quetzal 50,0 cm
Peso
Common Kestrel 190,0 g
Resplendent Quetzal 210,0 g
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Habitat Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Habitat Comparison

Habitats partilhados

Common Kestrel only

Resplendent Quetzal only

Common Kestrel

Open country including farmland, grasslands, moorland, and urban areas. Common along motorways and in cities across Europe.

Resplendent Quetzal

Montane cloud forests at elevations between 1,200 and 3,000 meters. Requires old-growth forest with dead trees for nesting cavities.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Song & Call Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Song & Call Comparison

Common Kestrel

Canto

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.

Resplendent Quetzal

Canto

Melodious, repetitive cooing: a series of 'kowee-kowee-kowee' or 'woh-woh-woh-woh' phrases. Male sings from high exposed perches in cloud forest canopy. Evocative highland call.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Geographic Range & Migration ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Geographic Range & Migration

Common Kestrel

Europe, Asia, and Africa. One of the most common and widespread raptors in the Old World.

Resplendent Quetzal

Southern Mexico through Central America to western Panama. Resident in mountain cloud forests.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Conservation Status Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Estado de conservação

Least Concern

Common Kestrel

Near Threatened

Resplendent Quetzal

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

How to Tell Them Apart

Common Kestrel

Plumagem

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.

Bico

Short, hooked grey bill with a yellow cere

Resplendent Quetzal

Plumagem

Males have iridescent emerald-green upperparts, a crimson-red breast, and extraordinarily long green tail coverts streaming up to 65 cm beyond the tail. Females are duller with grey breasts.

Bico

Short, broad, bright yellow bill partially hidden by green feathers

Key Differences

  • • Weight: Resplendent Quetzal (210g) vs Common Kestrel (190g)
  • • Length: Resplendent Quetzal (36 cm) vs Common Kestrel (34 cm)
  • • Wingspan: Resplendent Quetzal (50 cm) vs Common Kestrel (74 cm)
  • • Conservation: Resplendent Quetzal (Near Threatened) vs Common Kestrel (Least Concern)
  • • Family: Resplendent Quetzal (Trogonidae) vs Common Kestrel (Falconidae)
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ About Each Bird (Descriptions) ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

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.

Resplendent Quetzal

The resplendent quetzal was considered divine by the Maya and Aztec civilizations, associated with the feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl. Its iridescent green plumage and long tail streamers make it one of the most beautiful birds in the world. Guatemala's currency is named after this bird.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Related Comparisons ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Related Comparisons

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ More Birds in Family ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family