A small, graceful falcon that brings a light, buoyant energy to open skies across southern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Slightly smaller and more delicate than the common kestrel, this species favors warm, open landscapes such as farmland, dry grasslands, steppe, and semi-deserts. It’s strongly migratory, spending the breeding season across Europe and western Asia before traveling south to sub-Saharan Africa for the winter, often gathering in large roosts that can fill traditional village centers or shade trees along river valleys.
In appearance, the male lesser kestrel stands out with its pale chestnut back, bluish-gray head and tail, and clean, lightly spotted plumage. Unlike the common kestrel, it lacks the heavy black spotting and bold streaks that give its relative a more rugged look. Females and young birds are warm brown with subtle barring and a softer, sandy tone overall — ideal camouflage for sun-baked fields. The species’ flight style is characteristically light and fluttery, marked by agile twists and quick wingbeats. While it can hover like its relatives, it often glides low over fields or perches on wires and old buildings to search for prey, giving it a relaxed, almost effortless feel in the air.
Diet plays a key role in distinguishing the lesser kestrel from its larger cousins. Rather than focusing heavily on mammals, it primarily hunts large insects — especially grasshoppers, locusts, crickets, and beetles — along with occasional small reptiles and rodents. This insect-based diet makes it particularly dependent on traditional agricultural systems and natural grasslands, where prey remains abundant. When it spots food, the bird drops into quick stoops or smooth swoops, sometimes snatching insects directly from the ground in neat, precise movements.
Distribution
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Armenia
Austria
Official estimate
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belgium
Benin
Bosnia And Herz.
Botswana
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Central Af. Rep.
Chad
China
Congo-Brazzaville
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
Official estimate
Côte D’ivoire
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Denmark
Djibouti
Egypt
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
France
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Guinea
India
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Official estimate
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Malawi
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Mauritania
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Niger
Nigeria
North Macedonia
Oman
Pakistan
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Official estimate
Slovenia
Official estimate
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Sweden
Syria
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Turkmenistan
Turkey
UAE
Uganda
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Uzbekistan
Yemen
Zambia
ZimbabweAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
