The Lesser Kestrel: The Smallest Of The Hawks
The lesser kestrel is a beautiful insectivorous bird that was once possible to spot in fields, dovecotes, towers or abandoned houses. However, the number of specimens dropped dramatically a century ago due to the actions of men.
Currently, the installation of artificial nests and the efforts for its conservation have greatly improved the living conditions of this animal. However, the survival of this species is still under threat. In this article, we will talk about the characteristics of this small diurnal bird of prey: what it eats, where it lives and what are the threats to its survival.
The lesser kestrel: the smallest of the hawks
The lesser kestrel ( Falco naumanii ) is the smallest of the falcons. This small bird belonging to the order of falconiformes does not exceed 65 centimeters in length. It is usually confused with the common kestrel ( Falco tinnunculus ). What are the main characteristics of this bird?
- In males, the head and wing coverts are bluish-gray. The chest is white or cream colored and has black spots. Unlike the common kestrel, the back is reddish brown and has no spots.
- Females are similar, but have more muted colors, mainly reddish-brown. Like the males, they have the characteristic spots on the chest.
The feeding of the lesser kestrel
The lesser kestrel is a diurnal bird of prey that feeds mainly on insects. Its diet consists almost entirely of grasshoppers, crickets and locusts. Sometimes, these birds also feed on small vertebrates such as reptiles, amphibians, or rodents.
Lesser kestrels usually hunt in groups in open, treeless areas. Generally, it starts from above scanning the horizon perched on poles or trees in search of prey. Another method of hunting this hawk is to sift the ground. Thanks to its ability to flap its wings, it manages to remain suspended a few meters above the ground and follow its prey until it is captured.
The lesser kestrel: a rural and colonial bird
The habitat of the lesser kestrel is the countryside. We refer to cultivated or pasture fields, steppes or places at a certain altitude where it can hunt. Usually, it prefers agricultural areas that have sufficient biodiversity. In these places live the insects it feeds on.
Undoubtedly, one of the main characteristics of the lesser kestrel is that it is a colonial bird. These animals form numerous colonies that occupy the abandoned houses, bell towers or towers inside which they nest and raise their chicks.
Therefore, it is common to see this bird in the bell towers or buildings of many rural villages, becoming an attraction for local people who love nature and birds. The lesser kestrel is a clear example of a rural animal and native fauna.
A migratory bird
Regarding its distribution, we can say that it is a migratory bird. It reproduces in Europe, where it spends spring and summer forming colonies that hunt in the fields of this continent. In the fall, it migrates to the warmer areas of the Sahel in Africa. Numerous specimens are known to live all year round in the southern regions of the Iberian Peninsula.
Conservation status of the lesser kestrel
The main threat to this beautiful bird of prey is the loss of its foraging habitat. The intensification of agriculture makes it increasingly difficult for these animals to find places to feed on insects. In fact, the use of pesticides destroys the invertebrate populations they feed on in the short and long term.
Additionally, lesser kestrels tend to nest in sites such as ruined houses, which are continually being demolished. In Spain, for example, due to the loss of 95% of its population (in the 20th century), they have classified this species as an endangered species and have developed recovery plans.
Among the various conservation plans for the lesser kestrel developed by the Spaniards, the most ambitious is the construction of buildings, called primillares , with holes that allow kestrels to nest. In this way, the colonies of hawks and the health of the chicks can be monitored.
In the community of Madrid, the association for the recovery of native fauna, GREFA, has built 12 primillares that have made it possible to study this species of hawks in depth; as well as being an attraction for environmental tourism.
A bird of prey that needs our help
Various studies confirm that this hawk’s conservation efforts have paid off. Lesser kestrels have grown from 5,000 pairs to 12,000. However, the populations of these hawks are still under threat. Therefore, it is necessary to continue to promote the nesting of this species through the construction of buildings or other structures that can accommodate the nests of these animals.
Similarly, the use of insecticides in agriculture needs to be reviewed. This practice, which kills insect populations, is highly harmful to both the lesser kestrel and other birds. Massive use of insecticides is highly damaging to ecosystems. This should make us think.
