The image is a detailed photograph of a Common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), perched on a dead hawthorn tree branch.
The kestrel is a small bird of prey of the falcon family, slightly smaller than a pigeon. It has rich brown plumage with darker spots and bars on its back and tail feathers. It has distinctive yellow talons and a yellow cere at the base of its beak. Its feathers appear slightly ruffled in the wind. The bird is perched on the gnarled, weathered wood of a bare branch, covered with lichen. The background is a vibrant, uniform blue sky, providing a stark contrast that highlights the warm tones of the bird. The focus is sharp on the kestrel and its perch, while other branches in the foreground and background are softly blurred. Kestrels are a familiar sight in various habitats, known for their characteristic hovering behaviour while hunting for small mammals. They can often be seen perched on high points like fence posts or trees, scanning the ground for prey. The title is a nod to the book H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald, now also a movie starring Claire Foy. The book is a memoir centred around Helen’s training of a goshawk that helped her through the grief of losing her father. Here’s the RSPB’s description of the Common Kestrel: Both males and females have pale undersides with black speckles. Males have a slate-grey head and uppertail with a single black band at the tip. Females are browner all over, with bars all along the uppertail. Both males and females have dark ‘tear’ marks extending below each eye. Wing tips are more pointed than a Sparrowhawk’s. They have a longer tail than other falcons, with a black band at the end, fanned out while hovering. The beak is yellow and black. Legs are yellow. They are between 32 and 35cm in length.
F is for Falcon #ShareMondays2026
I had a lovely time watching a #kestrel pair hunting in #BushyPark at the weekend. This is the #female perched on a favourite old #hawthorn tree. #nature #birding #wildlife @theroyalparks.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social #fujifilm_uk #BigGardenBirdwatch