Postage stamp. Great Britain. Queen Elizabeth II. Birds of Prey. Kestrel. Kestrel with Wings partly extended 2003.
The stamp is one of a se-tenant block of ten 1st class stamps depicting the Barn Owl (Tyto alba) and the Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), in flight. The barn owl (Tyto alba) is the most widely distributed species of owl and one of the most widespread of all birds. It is also referred to as the common barn owl, to distinguish it from other species in its family, Tytonidae, which forms one of the two main lineages of living owls, the other being the typical owls (Strigidae). The barn owl is found almost everywhere in the world except polar and desert regions, in Asia north of the Himalaya, most of Indonesia, and some Pacific islands. The name kestrel (from French crécerelle, derivative from crécelle, ratchet) is given to several 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 (35–65 ft) over open country and swoop down on prey, usually small mammals, lizards or large insects. Other falcons are more adapted to active hunting in flight. Kestrels are notable for usually having mostly brown in their plumage.
Size: 3000px × 2891px
Photo credit: © Stan Pritchard / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: bird, birds, britain, commemorative, crécerelle, elizabeth, europe, extended, falco, flight, flying, french, great, ii, kestrel, office, post, postage, prey, queen, stamp, tinnunculus, wing, wings
