What size was it? It could be but I'm not sure.
can anyone confirm if this is a young kestrel that i found outside our garden wall tonight.
What size was it? It could be but I'm not sure.
Here is another picture I found of a juvenile kestrel if it helps.
It most likely is a Kestrel, its the most common bird of that size in the area, if it is not it would probably either be a Sparrowhawk or a Hobby which is a little harder to find.
Certainly not a sparrowhawk - their eyes are yellow. Most probably a young kestrel. I used to see lots of kestrel nests up in the highlands, often in farm buildings.
"Step sideways, pause and study those around you. You will learn a great deal."
I'd say it was a young kestrel.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.
Hi south view 7
How big was your young raptor? Looks a bit like a juvenile Merlin - I would expect a juv Kestrel to more heavily streaked across the breast - but difficult to judge from your photo without any indication of size.
It's a kestral
Sorry to disagree with Sharky, but at only 10 inches its a Merlin.
I never looked at the measurements but based it on the colouration as juvenile merlins are usually darker in colour. It looks like the one I rehabilitated a couple of years ago.
I had a look at a book I have and it looks very like a young Kestrel to me. Although I could easyily be wrong.
Hopefully Nirofro will be along and I am sure he will know.
Away with the birds
here is a better photograph.
Tricky one. I thought young Kestrel initially but could be Merlin. You don't know what colour his back is, do you?
If that's a merlin I'll eat me hat.
As much as I would like to see the spectacle, there is no need for Sharky to eat her/his hat! On that last photo it is clearly a Kestrel.
Kestrel now returned to wild.
Bookmarks