PORT PHILLIP BAY


Nankeen Kestrel 

Falco cenchroides

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

See below for information.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Falconiformes
Family:
Falconidae
Genus:
Falco
Species:
cenchroides

General Description

Upper body red-brown, wings red-brown, underparts white or yellow-brown with dark streaks. Head light grey with a dark brown stripe below the eye. Tail with black, rounded tip. Body up to 36 cm long.

Biology

Nankeen Kestrels hover above open pastures whilst hunting, looking to catch rodents below in the grass.

Habitat

Open grasslands, croplands and urban areas.

Coastal shores

Distribution guide

Australia.

Species Group

Birds Eagles and falcons

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)

Water Column

Above surface

Max Size

36 cm

Diet

Carnivore

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Least Concern
  • CITES : Trade restrictions (Appendix II)

Author

article author Longmore, N. W.

Wayne Longmore is a Senior Collection manager of terrestrial vertebrates at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author O'Brien, R.

Rory O'Brien is a Collection Manager of terrestrial vertebrates at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Longmore, N. W. & O'Brien, R., 2011, Nankeen Kestrel, Falco cenchroides, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 22 Oct 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7884

Text: creative commons cc by licence