308 LIFE HISTORIES OP NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



105. Falco tinnunculus Linnaeus. 



KESTREL. 



Falco tinnunculus Linnjetjs, Systema Naturae, ed. 10, 1, 1758, p. 90. 



(B — , C — , R 422, C — , U 359.1.) 



Geographical kange : Europe, Asia, and Africa ; accidental in eastern North 

 America (Massachusetts). 



The Kestrel, one of the most common birds of prey of the Old World, 

 is admitted as a bird of our fauna, a specimen having been shot at Straw- 

 berry Hill, Nantasket Beach, Massachusetts, September 29, 1887, and which 

 is now in the collection of Mr. Charles B. Cory, of Boston, Massachusetts. 



Mr. Henry Seebohm says: "The Kestrel breeds in almost every part 

 of the Palsearctic region and is common up to latitude 60° N. Farther north 

 it rapidly becomes rarer, and north of the Arctic circle its appearance is 

 only accidental, though there seems to be good reason to believe that Wolley 

 once obtained a nest in Lapland as far north as 68°. North of the Alps it 

 is principally a summer migrant, but in the countries south of the Baltic a 

 few remain during the winter. South of the Alps it appears to be a resident. 



"Mice form the chief part of the Kestrel's food; but occasionally small 

 birds are taken, although very rarely and only when its usual fare is want- 

 ing; frogs, moles, caterpillars, lizards, and earthworms are also eaten. * * * 

 The Kestrel appears to delay its nesting season until field mice and insects 

 are plentiful. It generally breeds in the thickest woods and rarely in nests 

 built in isolated trees. It also rears its young on the cliffs by the seaside, 

 and some of the best places to seek for its eggs are the rocks on the moors 

 and the cliffs of limestone districts. The Kestrel will also not infrequently 

 lay her eggs in holes of buildings, notably among the ivied ruins and the 

 Gothic architecture of cathedrals in company with Doves and Jackdaws. 

 When the eggs are laid in the crevices of rocks a little cavity is, if possible, 

 scratched in the soft earth or vegetable refuse, or, failing in this, some natu- 

 ral cavity in the rock itself is chosen in which to deposit the eggs. In the 

 wooded districts a Crow's or Magpie's nest is the usual situation chosen by 

 the Kestrel in which to rear its young, and sometimes the nest of a Ring 

 Dove is used, and, more rarely still, that of a Sparrow Hawk. It is also 

 worthy of remark that when a Magpie's nest is chosen the rooty lining is 

 usually removed, probably from motives of cleanliness, and the eggs are 

 laid on the hard lining of mud. As incubation advances the pellets con- 

 taining the refuse of the bird's food accumulate and serve as a lining, beauti 

 fully soft, on which the eggs rest secure. 



"Six eggs is the number usually found, although in some cases the 

 number has been seven, and in others only four or five. They are rich 

 reddish brown of various shades upon a dirty or creamy white ground. 

 Most eggs of this bird when newly laid possess a purplish bloom which, 



