Australian Kestrel
Australian KestrelAustralian KestrelAustralian KestrelAustralian Kestrel

Australian Kestrel

Falco cenchroides

Silhouette: Shyamal · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
at Freycinet National Park
1 Verified sightings at Freycinet National Park From 2019 to 2026
2,258 Verified sightings across all 19 parks From 2019 to 2026
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Australian Kestrel

The nankeen kestrel (Falco cenchroides), also known as the Australian kestrel, is a raptor native to Australia and New Guinea. It is one of the smallest falcons, and unlike many, does not rely on speed to catch its prey. Instead, it simply perches in an exposed position, but it also has a distinctive technique of hovering over crop and grasslands.

The nankeen kestrel is a species of the genus Falco, allied to a subgenus Tinnunculus. They were first described by Nicholas Vigors, James Gleeson and Thomas Horsfield in 1827. Further descriptions — regarded as synonyms for the species — were published: Cerchneis immaculata Brehm, 1845; the later name Cerchneis unicolor by Alexander Milligan was published in Emu in 1904; and that author's name appearing in the assignment to a subspecies, Cerchneis cenchroides milligani, published by Gregory Mathews in 1912.

The generic name is Late Latin falco 'falcon' (from falx falcis, 'sickle') and the specific epithet is derived from Ancient Greek kenkhris 'kestrel' and -oides 'resembling'. The common names mosquito hawk, kestrel, windhover, hoverer are cited in the Australian Faunal Directory. Its common descriptor refers to the colour... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Freycinet National Park

Brown Falcon
LC

Brown Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco berigora

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Peregrine Falcon
LC

Peregrine Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco peregrinus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Cape Range 🇦🇺 Australia
~50%
2 Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~50%
3 Ningaloo Marine Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~50%
4 Flinders Chase 🇦🇺 Australia
~40%
5 Flinders Ranges National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~30%
6 Kosciuszko National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
7 Great Otway National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
8 Grampians National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
9 Daintree National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
10 Blue Mountains National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
11 Wilsons Promontory National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
12 Nitmiluk National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
13 Kakadu National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
14 Royal National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
15 Booderee National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
16 Lamington National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
17 Maria Island National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
18 Litchfield National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
19 Freycinet National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
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