What is the name given to several members of the falcon genus?
Q: What is the name given to several members of the falcon genus?
A: The name kestrel is given to several different members of the falcon genus, Falco.
Q: How do kestrels hunt their prey?
A: Kestrels hover about 10–20 metres (35–65 ft) over open country, and swoop down on prey, usually small mammals, lizards or large insects.
Q: What type of plumage do kestrels typically have?
A: Kestrels have much brown in their plumage.
Q: Can kestrels fly in stationary air?
A: Yes, kestrels can fly in stationary air, even indoors in barns.
Q: Is there a difference between male and female kestrel plumage?
A: Yes, unusually for falcons, plumage often differs between male and female, although as usual with monogamous raptors the female is slightly larger than the male.
Q: Where do kestrels typically nest?
A: Kestrels are bold and have adapted well to humans so they nest in buildings and hunt by main roads. They do not build their own nests but use nests built by other birds.
Q: When did true kestrel species emerge?
A: About 2.5–2 million years ago (mya), the main lineage of true kestrel species emerged from Africa and subsequently spread across the Old World until they reached Australia some time during the Middle Pleistocene less than one million years ago.
