CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 2/5 



CASE 61. 



THE KESTREL. 



Oi'der, Accipitres. Family, Falcotiidce . 



The Kestrel, or Windhover — the latter name is 

 undoubtedly due to its characteristic habit of hover- 

 ing in the wind — is pretty well distributed over the 

 British Islands, and is a resident and breeding- 

 species with us. 



From ornithological books it appears that in 

 winter this Hawk leaves its habitat in the more 

 northern districts of our islands and distributes itself 

 in the more southern portions, these again being 

 augmented by others which arrive from the Con- 

 tinent. In regard to the nesting-site of this species, 

 those that I have come across have been in tall 

 trees — such as the fir, or in the face of some cliff, 

 generally those which have a good growth down the 

 side— such as ivy, but writers on ornithology say 

 that the Kestrel prefers, instead of making a nest for 

 himself, to make use of a ready-made one, such as 

 that of a Crow, Magpie, or Woodpigeon. 



The eggs — usually four, laid in May, are of a 

 reddish-brown colour. This Hawk, like the Hen 

 Harrier, is very fond of field mice and voles ; frogs, 

 snails, and beetles being also part of its diet ; but 

 nevertheless it cannot be entirely credited with 

 being a perfectly harmless species, for it certainly 

 preys on young birds, and as there appears to be a 

 consensus of opinion amongst some ornithological 



