CHAPTER II 

 WILD BIRDS 



RESIDENT 

 INSECTIVOROUS AND HARMLESS. 



THE KESTREL or WINDHOVER (Falco tinnunculus) , Fig. 22, belongs 

 to the Falconidae. The colour is reddish brown to fawn, with 

 black or bluish-black bars or spots on the back, and the breast 

 of a lighter hue of fawn or chestnut. The beak of the male is blue. 

 The nest is built in high trees, commonly in old nests of crows 



FIG. 22. THE KESTREL AND FIELD VOLE. 



or magpies, on high rocks or old towers ; the female lays five eggs, 

 about i J in. long, mottled with reddish brown ; the young birds 

 appear about the beginning of May. 



The kestrel is a beautiful and valuable bird, frequenting woods, 

 groves, fields, parks, lowland and hill pastures, commons and 

 moorlands, and may be identified by its habit of poising itself and 

 hovering almost immovably over a certain spot, whence its popu- 

 lar name wind-hover. The food consists chiefly of field and red 



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