. British birds . kestrel is the bestknown of the Britishhawks, not only becauseit is the most commonspecies, but also because its peculiar preying habits bring it moreinto notice. It is resident and foimd throughout the UnitedKingdom, but undoubtedly possesses a partial migration, as iiwholly disappears from some northern districts in the winter,and at the same season becomes more abundant in the southerncounties. When in quest of prey the kestrel has the habit of stoppingsuddenly in its rapid flight, and remaining for some time motionlessin mid-air, suspended on its rapidly-beating wings, us
. British birds . kestrel is the bestknown of the Britishhawks, not only becauseit is the most commonspecies, but also because its peculiar preying habits bring it moreinto notice. It is resident and foimd throughout the UnitedKingdom, but undoubtedly possesses a partial migration, as iiwholly disappears from some northern districts in the winter,and at the same season becomes more abundant in the southerncounties. When in quest of prey the kestrel has the habit of stoppingsuddenly in its rapid flight, and remaining for some time motionlessin mid-air, suspended on its rapidly-beating wings, usually at a heightof twenty or thirty yards above the surface. Tliis habit, which haswon for the species the appropriate name of windhover, is uniqueamong British hawks. It is this peculiar aerial feat which makesthe kestrel, when seen on the wing, so familiar a figure to country-people. The instant that the bird pauses in his swift-rushing flightyou know that it is a kestrel, although it may be at such a distance. i natural size. REST BEL 213 tts to appear a mere spot, a small moving shadow, against the has shorter wings than other falcons, and, by consequence, amore rapid and violent flight. The kestrel preys chiefly on mice and field-voles ; occasionallyit takes a small bird, and carries off young, tender chicks, if theycome in its way; but it certainly does not deserve its scientific nameof alaudarius (a feeder on larks), which would have fitted thehobby better. It also preys on frogs and coleopterous insects. Selbyrelates that a kestrel was observed late one evening pursuing thecockchafers, dashing at them and seizing one in each claw, eatingthem in the air, and then returning to the charge. SVhen on thewing the kestrels downward-gazing eyes are constantly on the look-out for the mice that lurk on the surface, and as mice are usually wellconcealed by the grass and herbage, the eyes must indeed be wonder-*iilly sharp to detect them. After remaining suspended for somes
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Keywords: ., bookauthorhudsonwh, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookyear1921
