Birds in Spain - Andalucia - Common Kestrel

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Species: Kestrel – Falco tinnunculus – Cernícalo Vulgar

Kestrel female
Polytypic. Nominate tinnunculus, west Palearctic east to north-east Siberia, Mongolia, and Pamir; canariensis, western Canary Islands; dacotiae, eastern Canary Islands; neglectus, northern Cape Verde Islands; alexandri, south-east Cape Verde Islands; rupicolaeformis, Egypt south to northern Sudan, east to Arabia. Extralimital: c. 5 races in Africa and Asia.
Common and widespread resident. Breeds over a wide range of habitats, even urban areas, although always requires open type spaces with some ground cover for feeding. Densities of population are clearly demarked by habitat type, for example the Doñana has very high population densities in areas of open grassland habits. Some increase in numbers during winter as migrants from the north join resident populations. Also migration can be witnessed in spring and autumn, thought only to involve populations from outside of the province.


Especie: Cernícalo Vulgar - Falco tinnunculus - Kestrel


Politípica. Nomina tinnunculus, al oeste del Paleártico este a noreste de Siberia, Mongolia y Pamir; canariensis, al oeste de las Islas Canarias; dacotiae, al este de las Islas Canarias; neglectus, el norte de islas de Cabo Verde; alexandri, al sureste islas de Cabo Verde; rupicolaeformis, Egipto hacia el sur hasta el norte de Sudán, al este de Arabia. Extralimite: c. 5 carreras en África y Asia.

Residente común y generalizado. Las razas en una amplia gama de hábitats, incluso las zonas urbanas, aunque siempre requiere espacios abiertos tipo con algo de terreno cubierta para la alimentación. Las densidades de población son claramente delimitadas por el tipo de hábitat, por ejemplo, el de Doñana ha densidad de población muy alta en las zonas de los hábitos de los pastizales abiertos. Algunos aumentar en número durante el invierno ya que los migrantes del norte unirse a las poblaciones residentes. También la migración puede ser visto en la primavera y el otoño, sólo pensaba en hacer participar a las poblaciones de fuera de la provincia.

Lesser Kestrel male left Common Kestrel male right
Author's note:
Difficulties separating this species from Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni are experienced by observers and a very useful comparative guide has been published for these 2 species on the member’s area of the main Andalucia Bird Society website. The figure to the left shows an adult male Lesser Kestrel (left) and an adult male Common Kestrel (right). Simple enough to see the difference, but in the field it can be hard to separate them. The females and juveniles can sometimes be nigh impossible, even for the most experienced observer!

Nota del autor:
Las dificultades que separa a esta especie de Cernícalo Primilla Falco naumanni son experimentadas por los observadores y una guía comparativa muy útil ha sido publicado para estas dos especies en el área de miembros del sitio web principal de Andalucía Sociedad de Aves. La figura de la izquierda muestra un adulto de sexo masculino Cernícalo Primilla (izquierda) y un adulto de sexo masculino Cernícalo Vulgar (derecha). Bastante simple para ver la diferencia, pero en el campo puede ser difícil para separarlos. Las hembras y los juveniles a veces puede ser casi imposible, incluso para el observador más experimentado!



Distribution of F.tinnunculus in Andalusia
Distribución de F.tinnunculus en Andalucía

Comments

Unknown said…
Spotted a Kestrel flying Los Romanes
April 29, 2019 at 9:20 AM
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