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Falcon that can be found in various open habitats
© National Museum of Qatar
Scientific Name: Falco tinnunculus
Common Name: Common Kestrel
Dimensions: Length: 33 – 39 cm Wing Span: 65 – 80 cm
Medium: model
Registration Number: RPN.2018.0194.1
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In the species falco tinnunculus, both sexes appear similar from a distance. However, males have a grey head, a solid grey tail without narrow bars, and a more pronounced brick-red coloration with fewer markings on the back. Females and juveniles share a similar appearance, lacking the grey head and tail of the males. They have a barred tail, extensive markings on the upperparts, and are streaked on the head and underparts.
Habitat and Biology
The species in question is primarily active during the day (diurnal) and can be found in various open habitats. Its diet mainly comprises insects, although it will occasionally prey on small mammals. The species constructs its nests in diverse locations, including rock ledges, building edges, and abandoned corvid nests. It's commonly observed hovering or perched on wires and roadside posts, with its distinctive long tail being a notable characteristic.
ECO System Qatar
Rocky desert ecosystem:The Qatar peninsula's interior consists of flat, rocky plains with hardy life forms surviving and offering hunting spaces for predators. Stony deserts with sand, pebbles, and limestone emerge at the center, featuring gravel plains and eroded limestone formations. Three stony desert types are noted: Hamada, tough exposed zones prone to surface fracturing due to extreme summer heat; Hofuf, plains with a light gravel layer; and Wadis, dry channels filling after heavy rains.
PUBLICATIONS AND RESEARCH
Jennings, Michael C. (Author), Krupp, Friedhelm (Editor), Al-Suwaiyel, Mohammed bin Ibrahim (Preface By). (Series: Fauna of Arabia, Volume: 25). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Publisher: Karger Libri. 2010.
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