JAY AND KESTREL 



6\ 



another in a curious way. Blue feathers on wing used for 

 making salmon flies. 

 Plumage. — Greyish-white crest, with black streaks; from the base 

 of the beak it has a black moustache; reddish-grey is the 

 general colour of the plumage, darker above; dingy -black 

 primaries; velvet-black and white secondaries; rich chestnut 

 inner tertiaries; the greater coverts and what is known as the 

 winglet have black, white, and bright-blue bars; tail-coverts 

 above and below white; bright-blue iris; black beak; dark- 

 brown feet. Length. — Thirteen and a half inches. 



KESTREL (Tinnuncidus alaudarius) 



Local Names. — Creshawk. Kastril, Keelie, Kestrel Hawk, Kistril, 

 Mouse Falcon, Staengall or Steingall, Standgale, Stannel, Stannel 

 Hawk, Stannel Hoverhawk, Stonegall, Windhover. 



Haunt. — Woods, cliffs, downs, moors, 

 and open fields. 



Nesting Period. — April and May. 



Site of Nest. — Trees and cliffs. 



Materials Used. — Generally takes 

 possession of the nest of a Magpie 

 or Crow; if not, 

 then uses sticks, 

 twigs, etc. 



Eggs. — Four or Five. 

 Pale reddish - 

 brown, closely 

 mottled with a 

 darker shade. 



Food. — Rats, mice, 

 voles, birds, 

 frogs, snails, and 

 insects. 



Voice. — A sharp ring- 

 ing, half-laugh- 

 ing cry, and when 

 nest is visited a 

 plaintive, plead- 

 ing note. 



Chief Features. — 



Easily distinguished from the Sparrow Hawk by plumage. 

 The Kestrel is still much persecuted by gamekeepers, but 

 does very little harm to game, and should be rigidly protected. 



Fig. 19. Kestrel. 



