kestrel

American  

[kes-truhl] / ˈkɛs trəl /

noun

1. a common small falcon, Falco tinnunculus, of northern parts of the Eastern Hemisphere, notable for hovering in the air with its head to the wind.

2. any of several related small falcons, as the American kestrel, F. sparverius.

---

kestrel British  

/ ˈkɛstrəl /

noun

1. any of several small falcons, esp the European Falco tinnunculus, that tend to hover against the wind and feed on small mammals on the ground

---

Etymology

Origin of kestrel

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English castrell, ultimately from Middle French quercerelle, variant of crecerelle; further origin uncertain

Example Sentences

As we went down, the cliffs in back of us rose higher and higher, and the gannets and kestrels wheeled and dipped.

From Literature

In midsentence, she’d suddenly break off to excitedly note a young kestrel flying near the crossing or a honeybee foraging among some early flowers.

From Los Angeles Times

"I did learn to fly a kestrel, which is actually the most fun thing I have ever done in the name of work," she said.

From BBC

Another study found urban lizards were also more responsive to threatening sounds, such as a wildfire or a kestrel.

From Los Angeles Times

"Those birds, in turn, then provide a food source for some of the more charismatic birds, like peregrine falcons or kestrels."

From BBC