Scientific name: Falco naumanni Fleischer, 1818
Bird group: Birds-of-prey
Field characters. Length 29-32 cm; wingspan 58-72 cm. Resembles Common Kestrel but smaller with rounded wings, more delicately built and male more brightly coloured. Tail slightly shorter; when perched wingtips reach dark subterminal tail-band (unlike Kestrel). Male has unspotted chestnut mantle, blue-grey head and tail, and large blue-grey patch on inner-wing; black terminal band on tail wider than in Kestrel; underparts paler than Kestrel. Female very similar to female Kestrel but slimmer; underparts paler and less streaked; upperparts thinner barred, with larger contrast between dark outer and paler inner wing. In close view, note weaker face pattern (weaker moustachial stripe and no eye-stripe beyond eye) and light claws (Kestrel's are dark). Juvenile like adult female. Flight graceful, with shallow and fast wing-beats; hovers less persistently than Kestrel; hunts frequently late in the evening. More sociable than Kestrel; nests in colonies.
Voice. As in Kestrel but hoarser and more slurred; flight call a high-pitched, screaming "tseh tseh tseh".
Distribution. Formerly fairly common summer visitor, but has seriously declined.
Habitat. In the breeding season it frequents arid, open country and is adapted to nest-sites in buildings and ruins in towns and villages.
Food. Hunts for prey by flying low over ground interspersed with short periods to hover, followed by swoop to pounce on prey once detected. Follows prey also in the air. Feeds mainly on large insects.