the nankeen kestrel is a small falcon, also known as the australian kestrel, found in australia and new guinea. they have a unique hunting style that makes them distinctive; as opposed to relying on speed to catch their prey, like most falcons, they perch in an exposed position to wait for their prey, or hover over fields of crops and grasslands to search. these birds are small and slender in build, with primarily rufous upperparts and pale buff underparts streaked with black. the sexes are similar, though males have a grayish head and tail, which is more rust-colored in females; females also tend to have more markings overall. they are common in grasslands along with around farmland, where prey is plentiful. their diet mainly consists of small mammals, small birds, lizards, and large insects. small prey, such as insects, may be eaten in flight, while larger items are taken back to a perch. nankeen kestrels are not picky about where to build their nests, and may raise their young in a tree hollow or cave, ledges on the outside of buildings, an abandoned nest formed by another bird, or even a simple scrape on the ground. typically, a pair will only raise one brood a year. the pair works together to raise the young, with males providing food while females incubate the eggs. typically, once nankeen kestrels have found an ideal nest they will reuse it for multiple years in a row, with pair bonds usually continuing over many seasons if not for life.
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