Common Kestrel

This species is defined as a Review Species . Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page .

Scientific Name: Falco tinnunculus

Malay Name: Rajawali-Padang Biasa

Chinese Name: 红隼

Range: Breed range extends from Europe, Africa, temperate Asia, Middle-East, northern Indian subcontinent, western and southern China, Korea to Japan with some northern populations wintering south to Africa, Indian subcontinent, southern China, Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: tinnunculus, perpallidus, interstinctus, objurgatus, canariensis, dacotiae, neglectus, alexandri, rupicolaeformis, archeri, rufescens.

Size: 30-34 cm

Identification: Male has slaty-grey crown, nape, rump to uppertail, broad black subterminal tail-band, rufous rest of upperparts and wing-coverts with blackish markings, dark moustachial/cheek stripe and pale buffish underparts with dark streaks/spots on breast, belly and flanks. Female resembles male but has dark-streaked warm brown crown/nape and duller rufous upperparts with dark bars.

Similar looking species: Lesser Kestrel

Habitat: Open country, reclaimed land and grasslands.

Behaviour/Ecology:

Local Status: Rare migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2021)

Featured reports: Nov 2022, Dec 2022, Jan 2023, Dec 2023, Jan 2024

Past records in our database:

Showing only accepted records. Note that records currently under review are also not displayed, and the list may not be a full list of records of this species in Singapore. For more details, check the database here.

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Average number of individuals by week based on Singapore Bird Database data, Jul 2016 to Jun 2023 (all records)
Peak weeks Nov 05-Nov 11, Nov 12-Nov 18
Early date 15 Jul 2000
Late date 11 Apr 2000
To see this species without having to break your neck and squint your eyes at Henderson Waves, try looking out for one at a grassland area in the winter. Recently, there have been sightings at Marina East Drive and Seletar.
Female Common Kestrel at Tuas South. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Female Common Kestrel at Tuas South. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Female Common Kestrel at Tuas South. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Male Common Kestrel at Clifton Downs Bristol, UK. Photo Credit: Pete Blanchard.
Common Kestrel at Marina East Drive. Photo credit: Francis Yap

External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Eurasian Kestrel)

References:

BirdLife International. (2021). Falco tinnunculus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22696362A206316110.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.

Lim, K. S. (2009). The Avifauna of Singapore. Nature Society (Singapore).

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Common Kestrel. Retrieved on April 14, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/common-kestrel.

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