Common or lesser kestrel, Segovia, Spain, June (1 Viewer)

GKSwamy · Jul 19, 2019

I am confused even after reading some articles about this. Please help. Thanks

PYRTLE · Jul 19, 2019

I'm thinking a male Lesser.

njlarsen · Jul 19, 2019

One rule that is best used if you have a whole series of images rather than a single is this:

Also look at the wing tip: if outermost primary (p10) and the one three in (p7) are equal length, then you are looking at Common Kestrel, if p7 is shorter, then it is Lesser Kestrel.

Niels

Nutcracker · Jul 19, 2019

I'm thinking Common - no longer central tail feathers, and (from Niels' criteria) P1 = P4 (if I've got the right ones!).

tconzemi · Jul 19, 2019

Nutcracker said:
I'm thinking Common - no longer central tail feathers, and (from Niels' criteria) P1 = P4 (if I've got the right ones!).

Agreed

John Cantelo · Jul 19, 2019

It's often tricky to judge wing formulae on a flying bird from a single photo but in this case, it looks spot-on for a Common Kestrel. The tail shape, however, isn't a consistent guide (particularly in females which, given the brown crown, sullied cheeks and strongly marked underparts I think this to be).

GKSwamy · Jul 20, 2019

Thanks everyone for the help

rollingthunder · Jul 20, 2019

On initial look i would have said not pale enough on the underwing coverts and not enough Blue in the Grey head for male Lesser...

Laurie -

aeshna5 · Jul 20, 2019

rollingthunder said:
On initial look i would have said not pale enough on the underwing coverts and not enough Blue in the Grey head for male Lesser...

Laurie -

That was my immediate reaction to when I first saw the image.

Common or lesser kestrel, Segovia, Spain, June (1 Viewer)

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