56 BIRDS OF Le PLATA 
ARGENTINE KESTREL 
Tinnunculus cinnamominus 
Above reddish cinnamon with irregular black cross bands on the 
back; head bluish grey; front and sides of head white; nape and 
stripes on the sides of the neck black ; wings bluish grey with black 
central spots; tail cinnamon red with broad black band and white 
tip; beneath white with buff tinge, and irregular oval black spots ; 
length 10.5, wing 7.7 inches. Female similar but larger. 
THE habits of this little Falcon closely resemble 
those of Falco fusco-cxrulescens, and like that bird 
it is common in Patagonia and migrates north in 
winter. Many individuals, however, do not migrate, 
as I found when residing at the Rio Negro, where 
some pairs remained at the breeding-place all the 
year. Many pairs are also found resident and breeding 
in other parts of the Argentine country, but it is 
common only in Patagonia. 
It nests in holes in cliffs and also on trees, and 
sometimes builds its own nest on the large nest of 
a Dendrocolaptine bird or of a Parrakeet. It lays 
four eggs, large for the size of the bird, oval in shape, 
and white, thickly blotched with dull red. 
The preying habits of the Little Kestrel are similar 
to those of the Orange-chested Hobby; it haunts 
farmhouses and plantations, and spends a great 
deal of time perched on some elevation watching 
for its prey, and making sudden dashes to capture 
it by surprise. But though not bold when seeking 
its food, it frequently makes violent unprovoked 
attacks on species very much larger than itself, either 
