(80) PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIES OF SOME LESS FAMILIAR BIRDS. LESSER KESTREL. (Plates 17-19). WITH A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE KESTREL, BY G. K.

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(80) PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIES OF SOME LESS LV. FAMILIAR BIRDS. LESSER KESTREL. Photographed by C. C. DONCASTER. (Plates 17-19). WITH A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE KESTREL, BY G. K. YEATES, FOR COMPARISON.

1 (80) PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIES OF SOME LESS LV. FAMILIAR BIRDS. LESSER KESTREL. Photographed by C. C. DONCASTER. (Plates 17-19). WITH A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE KESTREL, BY G. K. YEATES, FOR COMPARISON. (Plate 20). THE Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) is a smaller, more lightly built and more brightly coloured edition of the Kestrel (JF. tinnunculus) with even less difference in size between the sexes. As in the commoner species, the male has bluish-grey head, rump and tail, the last with a broad black band near the pale tip (plates 16 and 17), and reddish back, but the grey parts are much bluer, and the mantle a brighter and richer red, while the buff under-parts have in some lights a noticeably pinkish tinge. More definite physical differences from the Kestrel are a large, bluish patch on the secondaries, and, as can well be seen when the male in plates 17 and 18 is compared with the male Kestrel in plate 20, a complete lack of the latter's black spots on the back and scapulars, as well as a less extensive moustachial stripe. In addition, and this is also shown in plate 17, the claws of the Lesser Kestrel are usually whitish. The female, with rufous upper-parts barred black is even more similar to the female Kestrel, but the colouring is cleaner, and the moustache tends to be smaller and the barring finer. None of these characters, however, is of much value unless a close view is obtained, and of more help in distinguishing this species are its gregarjousness, its bolder approach to man and man's dwellings (it is therefore easier to watch at close range), and its higher-pitched and chattering call much more frequently uttered. Numbers may be observed at the breeding-sites or hawking together in the surrounding country, and they will appear in towns and villages, where one may perhaps be seen clinging to the wall of a building and chattering noisily. The Lesser Kestrel has a somewhat patchy breeding distribution in the Mediterranean countries and islands, and thence it extends eastwards across Asia (another race). Undoubtedly it is overlooked in parts of its range- for example in France, in Provence, it was only first recorded nesting in 1947 by A. Rivoire (1947, L'Oiseau el R.F.O., vol. xvii, no. 1 ; 1950, ibid., vol. xx, no. 1) in the old ruins of L'Abbaye de Montmajour, near Aries, but it had clearly been nesting for many years. Subsequently it was found breeding in considerable numbers in the Montagnes de Lancon, just south of Salon, about 23 miles away. It is an interesting example of the ease with which a critical species can be long

2 VOL. XLVII.] LESSER KESTREL. 81 overlooked by confusion with a very similar, more probable kindred species. Plate 19 illustrates these two French sites, typical breedinghabitats of the Lesser Kestrel, one old ruins and the other a rocky cliff. In such places these birds breed in crevices and holes (plates 17 and 18), making their scrapes well inside for they are addicted to much less open sites than those used by Kestrels. Usually they nest in colonies, frequently of pairs and sometimes rather more. Old buildings are often shared with pigeons and sparrows a typical association is indicated by the hole shown on the right of plates 17 and 18 that was occupied by a pair of Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus). The Lesser Kestrel normally lays 4 or 5 eggs which are rather paler and much yellower than those of the Kestrel. Though lizards and small mammals are occasionally taken for food, these do not form a major part of this bird's diet, as they do in the case of the Kestrel. The feeding-habits of the two species are in fact very different, for the Lesser Kestrel is almost entirely insectivorous, preying on locusts, grasshoppers, flies, etc., many of which it catches in the air, and it is not surprising therefore that it comparatively seldom hovers in the way so characteristic of the Kestrel. With a diet thus dependent on large insects it is perhaps to be expected that the Lesser Kestrel is not found in northern Europe and that it is only a summer-visitor to the southern parts (the species winters in southern Africa and India). It has in fact only been recorded in Britain on some 14 occasions almost all adult males and almost all before 1910, which js probably a good indication of the difficulty of separating isolated individuals of this species in the field, particularly without the aid of a gun. I.J.F.-L.

British Birds, Vol. xlvii, PI. 17. LESSER KESTREL (Falco naumanni). ADULT MALE AT ENTRANCE TO NEST. L'ABBAYE DE MONTMAJOUR, NEAR ARLES, FRANCE. MAY, 1953. (Photographed by C. C. DONCASTER).

3 British Birds, Vol. xlvii, PI. 17. LESSER KESTREL (Falco naumanni). ADULT MALE AT ENTRANCE TO NEST. L'ABBAYE DE MONTMAJOUR, NEAR ARLES, FRANCE. MAY, (Photographed by C. C. DONCASTER). The general colouring, including the blue head and the broad black subterminal band on the blue-grey tail, is very similar to that of the male Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), but, as is well shown here, the back and scapulars of this species are quite un-spotted (compare plate 20). Note also the whitish claws and the less well developed moustachial stripe. (see page 80).

British Birds, Vol. xlvii. PI. 18. LESSER KESTREL (Falco naumanni). ADULT MALE AT ENTRANCE TO NEST. L'ABBAVE DE MONTMAJOUR, NEAR ARLES, FRANCE. MAY, 1953. (Photographed by C. C. DONCASTEK).

4 British Birds, Vol. xlvii. PI. 18. LESSER KESTREL (Falco naumanni). ADULT MALE AT ENTRANCE TO NEST. L'ABBAVE DE MONTMAJOUR, NEAR ARLES, FRANCE. MAY, (Photographed by C. C. DONCASTEK). The nesting-site is a typical one, the scrape having been made inside a hole in an old wall. This species is much less inclined than the Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) to nest on open ledges. These birds are markedly gregarious and usually breed in colonies. The nest here contained four eggs. The hole on the right (better seen in plate 17) was occupied by a pair of Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus), then in the course of building. (see page 80).

5 British Birds, Vol. xlvii, PI. 19. NESTING-SITES OF THE LESSER KESTREL (Falco naumanni). UPPER: THE RUINS OF L'ABBAYE DE MONTMAJOUR, NEAR ARLKS, FRANCE. LOWER: THE MONTAGNES DE LANCON, SOUTH OF SALON, FRANCE. (Photographed by G. K. YEATES). The Lesser Kestrel was first found hreeding in Provence, France, in 1947 (see page 80) at Montmajour, but had clearly been nesting there for some years. Subsequently it was found breeding in considerable numbers in the Montagnes de Lancon. These may be regarded as typical breeding-habitats of the species.

6 British Birds, Vol. xlvii, PI. 20. KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus). MALE CARRYING LIZARD TO YOUNG IN NEST. BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND. (Photographed by G. K. YEATES). In general colouring the Kestrel and the Lesser Kestrel are very similar, but, as can be seen here, the back and scapulars of the former are well marked with black spots, which the latter lacks. The Kestrel's moustachial stripe is more prominent, but both species have the black band near the tip of the tail. Such a breeding-site as the disused Carrion Crow's (Corvus corona) nest shown here would be unusual for the Lesser Kestrel which prefers to breed inside holes.

Gator Hole Graphics. There is usually a six-month period

Gator Hole Graphics. There is usually a six-month period Goal: Interpret graphs that tell how some swamp animals survive drought. Objectives: Describe some of the ways drought affects animals in a swamp. Explain why alligators are an Important part of the swamp