Greater Kestrel

Afrikaans name: Grootrooivalk

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Falco rupicoloides

The Greater Kestrel occurs over much of the interior and western regions of South Africa. Beyond our borders it is found along the south-west coast of Africa and in East Africa. In some parts it is known as the White-eyed Kestrel.

The main prey item of the Greater Kestrel is insects but it will also take small reptiles, birds and rodents. It either hunts from a perch or by hovering in the air.

The pair don't normally make their own nest but rather choose to re-use the nest of other raptors or crows. Quite often nests in man-made structures such as pylons are chosen.

The female can lay up to 7 eggs and she incubates them for a month or so. Once the chicks have hatched then both adults hunt for prey for the chicks. The chicks will remain with the parents for around a year.

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References and further reading

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Year Published: 1983 - Page: 63

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1959 - Page: 125

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 125

African Birds of Prey - Author: Leslie Brown - Year Published: 1970 - Page: 122

An Introduction to the Birds of Prey of South Africa - Author: D.V. Prout-Jones - Year Published: 1974 - Page: 76

An Introduction to the Birds of Prey of South Africa - Author: D.V. Prout-Jones - Year Published: 1974 - Page: 118

Birds of Prey of Southern Africa - Author: Peter Steyn - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 229

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 65

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 22

Eagles, Hawks & Falcons of the World - Author: Leslie Brown and Dean Amadon - Year Published: 1989 - Page: 768

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 70

Ian Sinclair's Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Year Published: 1988 - Page: 92

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 1984 - Page: 190

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 2000 - Page: 190

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Year Published: 1949 - Page: 48

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 83

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1981 - Page: 89

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 163

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 160

Sasol Birds of Prey of Africa and its Islands - Author: Alan and Meg Kemp - Year Published: 1998 - Page: 234

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 122

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 130

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Year Published: 1989 - Page: 59

The Status & Conservation of Birds of Prey in the Transvaal - Author: W. Tarboton and D. Allan - Year Published: 1984 - Page: 105

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 64

List of South African Birds