THE KESTREL 



FALCO TINNUNCULUS 



Seabhag fhiorinn [Oaelic), also Clamhan ruadh ; Faucon cresserelle 

 (French) ; Thurm Falke (German). 



The Kestrel is the falcon most commonly met with in the 

 moorland districts of the Highlands, and would appear 

 to be holding its own despite the fact that large numbers 

 are shot every year on the Scottish grouse moors. 



Ornithologists, indeed all nature lovers, have always 

 been inclined to look upon the destruction of the Kestrel 

 as wanton and unjust. Keepers, on the other hand, have 

 been bitter against it in that it destroyed numbers of 

 the young of game birds, such as Grouse or Partridges. 

 There is a good deal to be said for either side of the ques- 

 tion, but of this there is no doubt ; the Kestrel — or Wind- 

 hover, as it is sometimes called — has a very largely- 

 developed useful side to its character, for its favourite prey 

 consists of mice, which do so much harm to agriculture 

 in these islands. It has been estimated that a single 

 Kestrel, remaining in a district for 210 days, would be the 

 means of destroying no less than 10,395 mice. Indeed, it 

 appears to delay its nesting season according as to whether 

 field mice and insects are plentiful or the reverse. In 

 the Scottish glens the nesting site of the Kestrel is a rocky 

 gorge, through which there often flows a hill burn. That 

 the Kestrel does not strike terror into the hearts of the 

 smaller birds is evident from the fact that several pairs 

 of Ring Ousels are almost invariably to be found nesting 

 near the Red Hawk, with, as like as not, a pair of Dippers, 



