Scientific name: Falco subbuteo Linnaeus, 1758
Bird group: Birds-of-prey
Field characters. Length 28-35 cm; wingspan 70-84 cm. Resembles miniature Peregrine Falcon with narrow wings, but adult recognisable by rusty-red thighs and under tail-coverts, smaller and more pointed moustachial stripe, and white underparts with black streaks. Juvenile with black-brown upperparts, with underparts more buff and more heavily streaked, and without red on thighs and under the tail. Peregrine-like flight, but wings look longer and tail shorter (reminds of large Common Swift). Hunts on swallows, larks, etc, and particularly in the evening on flying insects. Nests usually in abandoned nest of Carrion Crow.
Voice. A clear repeated "kew-kew-kew-kew", very variable both in form and timbre.
Distribution. Fairly common summer visitor.
Habitat. In the breeding season it frequents downlands, heaths, open woodland, parks, agricultural country, etc.
Food. Hunts by chasing flying insects and birds, seizing prey with feet. Insects are held in feet and are eaten during flight, but birds plucked and eaten at perch. Feeds on high-flying insects such as moths, ants, beetles and on birds such as swifts, martins, swallows, larks.