Kestrel

Kestrel is commonly the name for the common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), a small falcon found across much of Europe, Asia and Africa. The term also covers other small falcons in the genus Falco and, in some contexts, the windhover, a folk name referring to its hovering hunting technique.

Identification and description: Adults measure about 32–39 cm in length with a wingspan of 65–82 cm. Males typically have a bluish-grey head and tail, with a dark terminal band on the tail; females are brown above and speckled below. The back is often rufous or brown, giving a warm appearance in flight.

Habitat and behavior: Kestrels favor open habitats such as fields, grasslands and urban edges. They hunt by hovering into the wind, then drop onto small mammals, birds and large insects. They often hunt from perches but will quarter the ground at low height when searching for prey.

Breeding: They nest in natural cavities or nest boxes, laying typically 4–6 eggs. Incubation lasts about 28–32 days and the chicks fledge after roughly 30–40 days.

Conservation: The common kestrel is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with stable populations across much of its range though local declines occur where habitat is lost or degraded. Nest boxes can support occupancy in some regions.

Other uses: In computing, Kestrel is also the name given to a cross-platform web server used with ASP.NET Core to host web applications.