Predatory behaviour of common kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) in the wild

Abstract

The predatory behaviour of eight wild adult common kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) was recorded during predatory tests carried out in the wild under controlled conditions. Those birds were offered one laboratory mouse each, which was restrained on a base, thereby simulating natural predation. The predatory sequence was recorded directly, but also video-taped. The sequence was rather homogeneous among the kestrels, with most kestrels starting the attack glide from a perch, then capturing the prey at high speed. The mouse was grabbed directly, upon landing; in one instance, however, it disentangled from the bird’s foot and was captured after a few seconds. The target was usually grabbed at the shoulders or neck, or at the trunk. Soon after capture the kestrel flew to a distant perch, where it usually stroked the prey with one single peck, before starting ingestion, which began about 1 min time after prey grasping. Our results are the first to show the possibility of maintaining standardized conditions to study the predatory behaviour of birds of prey. As they are very similar to those obtained in previous tests carried out in captivity using rehabilitated kestrels, our results also confirm earlier ones showing that the kestrel’s predatory behaviour is rather stereotyped—i.e. performed with limited variation—and that it can be studied reliably even in captivity.