774. Lesser Kestrel.
FALCO CENCHRIS.
Falco cenchris, Naum. Vog. Deutschl, i. p. 318, Taf. 29 (1822) ; Dresser, vi. p. 125, pl. 385 ; Blanf. F. Brit. Ind. Birds, iii. p. 430 ; Saunders, p. 357 ; Lilford, i. p. 55 ; pl. 27 ; F. tinnunculoides, Temm. Man d’Orn, i. p. 31 (1822) ; Gould, B. of E. i. pl. 27 ; F. pekinensis (Swinhoe), P.Z.S. 1871, p. 341 ; Sharpe, Oat. B. Br. Mus. i. p. 437 ; “F. naumanni, Fleisch” ; Sharpe, tom. cit. p. 435 (1874).
Faucon cresserellette, French ; Primilla, Primita, Span. ; Rotelfalke, Germ. ; Grillajo, Ital. ; Krasnaya Pustelga, Russ.
Male ad. (Styria). Differs from F. tinnunculus in being smaller, in having the back, scapulars, and wing-coverts rich cinnamon, or vinous brick-red, unspotted, some of the inner secondaries slate-grey instead of rufous, and the claws white, not blackish. Culmen 0.75, wing 9.0, tail 6.0, tarsus 1.2 inch. The female resembles that of F. tinnunculus, but is smaller and has white claws.
Hab. Southern Europe ; a doubtful straggler to the British Isles ; Africa as far south as Damaraland, and occasionally to the Cape Colony in winter ; Asia Minor and Southern Asia east to China, and India in the winter.
In general habits it resembles F. tinnunculus, but is more gregarious, and feeds more generally on insects. It nests also frequently in large colonies, in old ruins, buildings such as church towers, &c., hollow trees, and sometimes in cliffs, making a very scanty nest, and in May deposits 4 to 5 or 6 eggs, which vary considerably but resemble those of F. tinnunculus, though they are more fox-red and lighter in colour, and smaller in size, averaging 1.44 by 1.11.
774. Falco cenchris
BookTitle:
A Manual Of Palaearctic Birds
Reference:
Dresser, Henry Eeles. A Manual of Palaearctic Birds. Vol. 2. 1903.
Title in Book:
774. Falco cenchris
CatNo:
774
Year:
1903
Page No:
553
Common name:
Lesser Kestrel
M_ID:
11255
M_CN:
Lesser Kestrel
M_SN:
Falco naumanni
Volume:
Vol. 2
Term name:
id:
10484
Add new comment