Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides
(aka Australian Kestrel)
Female Nankeen Kestrel, Wilpena Pound, South Australia, March 2006 - click for larger image Australia
February / March 2006

The Nankeen Kestrel is distributed in Australia and New Guinea. It is found in a wide variety of open country habitats including agricultural land.

Female Nankeen Kestrel, Wilpena Pound, South Australia, March 2006 - click for larger image The male has a pale grey crown and tail while the female has a brownish crown and its tail is brown with black bars as can be seen in photo 2.

When hunting it either hovers with fast wing beats or hangs motionless in the wind before dropping down, usually in stages, and swooping on its prey. It also still-hunts. Prey includes insects, small mammals such as mice, small birds and small reptiles.
Nankeen Kestrel, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, March 2006 - click for larger image
Nankeen Kestrel, Coorong, South Australia, February 2006 - click for larger image
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