Nankeen Kestrel

1. Distinctive hovering flight, often motionless above fields or roadsides

2. Males have a grey crown and tail; females and juveniles are more rufous and slightly larger

3. Prominent dark subterminal band on the tail, visible when perched or in flight

Nankeen Kestrels primarily hunt insects (especially grasshoppers and beetles), small mammals like mice, reptiles, and occasionally small birds. Their hunting strategy includes both hovering and perch-hunting, using keen eyesight to detect prey before swooping down. They are usually solitary or in pairs, but loose flocks may form when food is abundant.

Breeding occurs mainly from June to December, peaking in spring, but can vary with local conditions. They do not build their own nests, instead using tree hollows, cliff ledges, or abandoned nests of other birds, as well as artificial structures like buildings or pylons. Females lay 3–7 eggs (typically four), and incubation lasts 26–29 days, with the female incubating and the male providing food. Multiple broods may be raised in good seasons.

Nankeen Kestrels are widespread across Australia and New Guinea, inhabiting almost any open habitat that is not densely vegetated. They are especially common in agricultural areas, grasslands, open woodlands, coastal cliffs, and urban environments, often seen perched on power poles or buildings. The species is resident in many regions but may migrate or move locally in response to food availability, particularly in arid and tropical zones.

The Australian Kestrel’s former common name, Nankeen kestrel, came from the buff-coloured "keen" cotton cloth, referencing its warm colouration.