Lesser Kestrel

The Lesser Kestrel is a small, social bird of prey, a bit smaller than the Common Kestrel. Male Lesser Kestrels have a chestnut-coloured back without spots and do not have the dark stripe on the face that Common Kestrels have. Males also have blue-grey feathers on their wings and head, while females have more streaks underneath compared to female Common Kestrels. When flying, their white underwings with dark tips, pointed wings, and squared tail are easy to see. This bird breeds in groups and lives in open grasslands and farmland across southern Europe, the Mediterranean, and Central Asia. During winter, it moves to sub-Saharan Africa and India. In the UK, it is very rare and usually only seen in spring. Lesser Kestrels prefer large areas of farmland and open plains where they hunt insects, especially grasshoppers and beetles. They often feed together in flocks. Instead of nesting alone, they build their nests close to each other, usually in cracks in buildings or holes in cliffs.