Lesser Kestrel vs 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.

The Common Kestrel is a small bird of prey known for its unique way of hunting. It can hover in the air, staying still with wings beating quickly and tail spread out. Male kestrels have blue-grey heads and tails with chestnut-brown backs covered in spots. Female kestrels are a reddish-brown colour with heavy stripes all over. Both males and females have pointed wings and long tails when flying, with dark tips on their wings and bands at the end of their tails. Kestrels are found widely across the UK, as well as much of Europe, Asia, and Africa. They prefer open areas such as farmland, heathland, roadsides, and towns. They hunt by either hovering in the air or sitting on a perch. Their diet mainly consists of small mammals like voles, but they also eat large insects and sometimes small birds. You can often hear their sharp "kee-kee-kee" call near their nests, which are usually in holes in trees, on cliff edges, or in buildings.