Kestrel sat preening on Cornish Coastal headland The Enys Kenneggy Sand Mount Bay Cornwall Coastal Path Marizion Penzance area

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Kestrel sat preening on Cornish Coastal headland The Enys Kenneggy Sand Mount Bay Cornwall Coastal Path Marizion Penzance area Looking out to the grey and pounding sea. The name kestrel, (from French crécerelle, derivative from crécelle Ratchet) is given to several different members of the falcon genus, Falco. Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behaviour which is to hover at a height of around 10–20 metres (33–66 ft) over open country and swoop down on prey, usually small mammals, lizards or large insects. Other falcons are more adapted to active hunting on the wing. In addition, kestrels are notable for usually having much brown in their plumage. Kestrels can hover in stationary air, even indoors in barns. While hovering they face towards any slight headwind, leading to the Common Kestrel being called a "Windhover" in some areas. The most basal "true" kestrels are three species from Africa and its surroundings which lack a malar stripe, and in one case have—like other falcons but unlike other true kestrels—large areas of grey in their wings.

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Size: 4287px × 2848px
Location: Cornish Coastal headland The Enys Kenneggy Sand Mount Bay Cornwall
Photo credit: © Roland Pargeter / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: area., bay, coastal, cornish, cornwall, enys, falco, falco., falcon, genus, headland, kenneggy, kestrel, marizion, members, mount, path, penzance, preening, sand, sat