Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (extent of occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is extremely large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in 10 years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The European population is estimated at 411,000-631,000 pairs, which equates to 823,000-1,270,000 mature individuals (BirdLife International in prep.). Europe forms approximately 19% of the global range, so a very preliminary estimate of the global population size is 4,330,000-6,680,000 mature individuals, although further validation of this estimate is needed. It is therefore placed in the band 4,300,000-6,700,000 mature individuals.
Trend justification
In Europe the population size is estimated to be decreasing by less than 10% in 15.9 years (three generations [Bird et al. 2020]) (BirdLife International in prep.). In Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and northern Cameroon the species decreased by c.75% in all areas surveyed (both within and outside protected areas) between 1969-1973 and 2000-2004 (Thiollay 2007), equating to a decline of c.51% over three generations. However, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and northern Cameroon represent a small portion of the global range, and there is currently no evidence suggesting that the global rate of decline is approaching 30% over three generations.
Behaviour Populations in the northern part of the species’s range tend to be migrant, with others resident (del Hoyo et al. 1994). Migrant birds leave their breeding grounds between August and October, and those arriving in sub-Saharan Africa do so from October onwards (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). The return journey begins from February through until April (the exact time probably dependent on food availability), and is often undertaken in small mixed groups with F. naumanni and occasionally F. vespertinus (Brown et al. 1982, Snow and Perrins 1998, Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). The species can be solitary or gregarious, being most often seen singly but sometimes travelling in flocks of up to 10 individuals, especially on migration. Larger groups may congregate at sources of abundant food. It is mainly diurnal (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). Habitat The species tolerates a wide range of open and partially forested habitats, and has been recorded up to 4,500 m (del Hoyo et al. 1994). Diet It feeds mainly on small mammals, particularly in northern Europe, with insects possibly more important in Africa and the Mediterranean (del Hoyo et al. 1994). Breeding site The locations of nests are variable, with rock ledges, buildings and abandoned corvid nests being commonly reported sites (del Hoyo et al. 1994). Management information Birds require suitable perches and roosting sites, usually provided by trees, telegraph poles, buildings or rock faces (del Hoyo et al. 1994).
Past population declines resulted from the heavy use of organochlorine and other pesticides in the 1950s-1960s (Orta and Boesman 2013). Use of anticoagulant rodenticides is of increasing concern (Roos et al. 2021), and studies in southwest Spain suggest that some individuals may be exposed to toxic levels of inorganic elements (Manzano et al. 2021). In Malta, the species was exterminated by shooting, though it has since returned (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001). The population in much of the rest of Europe has shown a more recent steady decline, thought to be due to agricultural intensification (Snow and Perrins 1998). In its West African range, the species is vulnerable to habitat degradation through wood harvesting, overgrazing and fire as well as exposure to pesticides (Thiollay 2007). The species is vulnerable to the effects of potential wind energy development (Strix 2012). Collision or electrocution from electricity cables may pose a threat in some areas (pressures and threats data reported by EU Member States under Article 12 of the Birds Directive for the period 2013-2018). Predation by Northern Goshawks may limit populations in some areas (Petty et al. 2003).
Conservation actions underway
CITES Appendix II, CMS Appendix II, Raptors MOU Category 2. Breeding schemes are in place in at least 19 European countries (Derlink et al. 2018).
Text account compilers
Haskell, L.
Contributors
Ashpole, J, Khwaja, N., Ekstrom, J. & Butchart, S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/common-kestrel-falco-tinnunculus on 22/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/11/2024.