Lesser Kestrel - Rhodes (Lindos) (1 Viewer)

[Richg32]

Hi - I think this (first 2 photos) is a female Lesser Kestrel (rather than a Common Kestrel) based on the following (and having referred to Collins 3rd, Europe's Birds and the excellent Andalucia Bird Society comparison article

• fine barring on upper wings (narrower than rufous interspaces)
• lack of dark eye line
• difficult to see, but sub-terminal band on tail looks wide
• (circumstantial) there was a male Lesser Kestrel in the same area (3rd photo)

BUT

• the mustache is quite clearly defined
• the claws look dark

I'd be very grateful for your wisdom - thanks.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Rich,

Nice picture of a stunning male Lesser Kestrel. Tfs!

I agree with you, there are fine/subtle features that differs between the two extremly similar species. But they are fine and variable.
But as you noted, the claws are black, so its a confident Common Kestrel according to literature.

 

[tconzemi]

Wing formula also perfect for Common: length P10 = P7, so wingtip formed by 4 fingers: P10/9/8/7
In LK P10 = P8 wingtip by 3 fingers P10/9/8 easily seen in the male

 

[Richg32]

Thanks Alexander and Tom for your advice - much appreciated.

 

[smiths]

But these photos show three different birds, right?
'RHO01584 (2) copy.jpg' shows a male Eurasian Kestrel (note the plain grey tail, lacking brown barring).
The second photo (1646) looks fine for a female Lesser Kestrel to me; it shows a convincing, pure white cheek patch, just a very thin dark malar stripe, plain dark primaries (including inners), plain dark primary coverts, and dark outer secondaries. See also this post: Kestrel, Lagos, Portugal.

 

[Richg32]

But these photos show three different birds, right?
'RHO01584 (2) copy.jpg' shows a male Eurasian Kestrel (note the plain grey tail, lacking brown barring).
The second photo (1646) looks fine for a female Lesser Kestrel to me; it shows a convincing, pure white cheek patch, just a very thin dark malar stripe, plain dark primaries (including inners), plain dark primary coverts, and dark outer secondaries. See also this post: Kestrel, Lagos, Portugal.

Thanks so much @smiths - it hadn't occurred to me that they might be different birds as we were behind a large wall and they occasionally appeared above the wall to grab a few shots and I only ever saw one bird at a time. Given the presence of a male Lesser Kestrel, I guess I was expecting the other to be a female Lesser Kestrel. So in summary then,

• RHO01584 (2) copy.jpg - male Common Kestrel
• RHO01646 copy.jpg - female Lesser Kestrel
• RHO 01631 copy.jpg - male Lesser Kestrel

Just one question for clarification - you mention "(note the plain grey tail, lacking brown barring)" - meaning you would expect (a) the Lesser Kestrel or (b) the female Common Kestrel to have brown barring on the underside of the tail?

 

[tconzemi]

Just one question for clarification - you mention "(note the plain grey tail, lacking brown barring)" - meaning you would expect (a) the Lesser Kestrel or (b) the female Common Kestrel to have brown barring on the underside of the tail?

That's about sexing, not about species

 

[Richg32]

That's about sexing, not about species

Thanks Tom

 

[smiths]

Yes, the tail pattern shows that 1584 is a male and cannot be the same bird as 1646 (which has completely barred tail).

 

[Richg32]

Yes, the tail pattern shows that 1584 is a male and cannot be the same bird as 1646 (which has completely barred tail).

Thanks @smiths