Nankeen Kestrel
Falco cenchroides
Sturt Highway, W Vic IMG_0540 20230530 - male. CLICK for another pic.
Notes: Small, slim. Rufous upperparts, pale buff
underparts, bold black subterminal tail-band.
Male: pale grey,
dark-streaked crown; upperparts w. sparse fine black shaft streaks;
rump, upper-
tail powder grey, primaries black; cere, eye-ring,
legs & feet yellow to blue-grey. Female: entire
upperparts
rufous, black streaks broader, denser. Juvenile: denser dark spots,
barred tail.
In open habitats w. short grass. Generalist diet.
Range from Morcombe & Stewart©
Macnamara Road, NW Qld IMG_2125 20170813 - female
Rocky Tate River crossing, FN Qld IMG_0796 20210509 - male
Koonalda Cave, Nullarbor NP, SC SA IMG_3272 20181121 - juvenile x 2
Nautilus Building, Cairns North, FNE Qld IMG_3272 20231112 - male with Peaceful Dove prey. CLICK for action.
BirdsOnBarron, Mareeba, FN Qld IMG_0625 20180405 - male: rufous upperparts.
Fishermans Lane, Norfolk Island IMG_4211 20200313 - juvenile, eating in flight
Chillagoe, FN Qld IMG_0567 20210507 - male w. fresh prey.
Kurunjie Track, Kimberley, NE WA + Lake Cooper, Corop, C Vic IMG_7926+8338 20180816+20190925 - immature (L) + adult (R)
Fishermans Lane, Norfolk Island IMG_4223 20200313 - juvenile: barred tail.
Forrest Beach, N of Ingham, N Qld MVI_2240+2242 20180512 - juvenile: barred tail.
Chillagoe, FN Qld IMG_0569 20210507 - adult. Prey appears to be a Rainbow Bee-eater.