Rock Kestrel
Falco rupicolus
Silhouette: Shyamal · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderFalconiformes (Falcons and Caracaras)
- FamilyFalconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
- GenusFalco (Typical Falcons)
- SpeciesFalco rupicolus (Rock Kestrel)
About the Rock Kestrel
The rock kestrel (Falco rupicolus) is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It was previously considered a subspecies of the common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). This species occurs in Africa, from northwestern Angola and southern Democratic Republic of Congo to southern Tanzania, and south to South Africa.
A slender, medium-sized kestrel, between 30 and 33 centimeters tall. Adult male kestrels weigh between 183g and 254g, while females weigh between 190g and 280g. The species occurs from Angola, south through the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as Tanzania, further south to South Africa, and in most of the places between. Noticeable places of scarcity include north and north east Namibia, Botswana, south Mozambique and tropical Lowveld, while in Zimbabwe it is restricted to high-lying central and eastern regions. The kestrel is usually associated with arid areas, but may also be found in open and/or semi-arid areas.
Rock kestrels feed on a wide variety of organisms. They eat primarily invertebrates, but have been known to consume rodents... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Rock Kestrel in Kruger National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Kruger National Park
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Falco amurensis
Taita Falcon
Falco fasciinucha
Eurasian Hobby
Falco subbuteo
Lanner Falcon
Falco biarmicus
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
Dickinson's Kestrel
Falco dickinsoni
Lesser Kestrel
Falco naumanni
Greater Kestrel
Falco rupicoloides
Red-footed Falcon
Falco vespertinus
Sooty Falcon
Falco concolor
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Golden Gate Highlands National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 2 | Waterberg Plateau Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 3 | Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 4 | Namib-Naukluft National Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 5 | Addo Elephant National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 6 | Table Mountain National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 7 | Etosha National Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 8 | Garden Route National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 9 | Pilanesberg National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 10 | Kruger National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 11 | Moremi Game Reserve | 🇧🇼 Botswana | |
| 12 | Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 13 | Hwange National Park | 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | |
| 14 | Chobe National Park | 🇧🇼 Botswana | |
| 15 | iSimangaliso Wetland Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Rock Kestrel in Kruger National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Rock Kestrel sighting in Kruger National Park, based on 44 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Rock Kestrel in Kruger National Park?
August has the highest sighting rate for Rock Kestrel in Kruger National Park in our monthly data.