Tag Archives: Nankeen Kestrel

And the last one…

A great day at the Werribee Treatment Plant ended with a drive along the surrounding roads looking for the raptors using the fence posts as perches to watch for their evening meals. This little Kestrel was fluffed up against the cool air. The Nankeen Kestrel is also called the Chickenhawk (though it mostly hunts insects, small birds and mice), Mosquito Hawk and Windhover (due to its hunting technique). Its scientific name is Falco cenchroides – “resembling kestrel-like hawk falcon” (doesn’t leave much out).

Nankeen Kestrel, Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, Vic

Nankeen Kestrel, Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, Vic

Nankeen Kestrel, Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, Vic

II

Nankeen Kestrel, Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, Vic

III

Nankeen Kestrel, Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, Vic

Target sighted…

The Littlest Falcon

The Nankeen Kestrel is Australia’s smallest Falcon. It prefers the grasslands and open forests. It hovers or perches and watches for movement below and pounces  or drops straight down. There are a number of them at the moment at the Western Treatment Plant and surrounding grasslands and paddocks. I took photos of the two below while waiting for sunset and the Barn Owls to come out from their daytime roosts under the large Pine Trees in the area .

Nakeen Kestrel, Weribee, Victoria

Nakeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides)

Nakeen Kestrel, Weribee, Victoria

Nakeen Kestrel, Weribee, Victoria