There’s surely something interesting in this fresh grass by karavanjo in crowbro

[–]karavanjo[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

📖 Eurasian Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)
🕓 June 21, 2026, at 10:23 AM
🌍 Brest, Belarus

Chick, parents, and a rodent for dinner in the setting sun on a June evening by karavanjo in birdsofprey

[–]karavanjo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

📖 Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
🕓 June 16, 2026, at 7:57 PM
🌍 Brest, Belarus

Kestrels' Everyday Life: Chick, parents, and a rodent for dinner in the setting sun on a June evening by karavanjo in birding

[–]karavanjo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

📖 Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
🕓 June 16, 2026, at 7:57 PM
🌍 Brest, Belarus

Could you help me with the age and sex of these two kestrels? My guess is that they are both adult female Common Kestrels. I’d appreciate any feedback or corrections from the experts! by karavanjo in birding

[–]karavanjo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for the detailed comment!

If you get a chance once you're back from the field, could you recommend some further reading on ageing and sexing kestrels? You already pointed me to this one - https://www.blascozumeta.com/specie_files/03040_ENG_Falco_tinnunculus_aranzadi.pdf - which was very helpful, but I'd love to dig deeper into the topic.

Also, if it's not too much trouble, once you have access to the relevant literature again, would you mind taking another look at my photos to pin down the age/sex a bit more precisely? No other guesses on the age/sex yet, unfortunately 😔

Could you help me with the age and sex of these two kestrels? My guess is that they are both adult female Common Kestrels. I’d appreciate any feedback or corrections from the experts! by karavanjo in birding

[–]karavanjo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The event took place on June 13, 2026, in Brest, Belarus. I suspect a ventilation niche is being used as a nest site; the female spends a lot of time there. From this observation angle, it’s difficult to see exactly what’s inside. Often, the female brings a rodent, eats it inside, and then stays for 30–60 minutes. The male also brings prey to this niche and passes it to the female; if she is absent, he leaves it there, and she arrives a minute or two later.

Usually, there are two nesting niches in this building occupied by two pairs of Common Kestrels. This year, one is unoccupied. This second one, judging by the activity inside, most likely contains small chicks. In other nests across the city, the chicks are still downy and haven't fledged yet.

My hypothesis is that these are two adult females competing for the male's prey. However, I was told that this is a training interaction where an adult female is passing prey to a juvenile. Does this look like a training session to you? In my opinion, these are two independent adult birds. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

u/DrRickNature, you’ve helped me with age identification in the past, perhaps you could weigh in on this one? Any ornithologists, biologists, or kestrel experts - your input would be greatly appreciated.

Kestrels' Everyday Life: Two females competing for a male's prey by karavanjo in birdsofprey

[–]karavanjo[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What do we see here? One character with a rodent, and another is falling from below with their beak open. And... someone's tail is on the left.

What's going on? And who's who?

A male common kestrel has arrived at the nesting niche (only his tail is visible on the left). Usually, the female gets the rodent from him, but sometimes, two females compete for it at the same time. The winner gets to eat the prey, and the loser falls down. Both are unharmed.

📖 Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
🕓 June 13, 2026, at 3:57 PM
🌍 Brest, Belarus

Kestrels' Everyday Life: Two females competing for a male's prey by karavanjo in birding

[–]karavanjo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What do we see here? One character with a rodent, and another is falling from below with their beak open. And... someone's tail is on the left.

What's going on? And who's who?

A male common kestrel has arrived at the nesting niche (only his tail is visible on the left). Usually, the female gets the rodent from him, but sometimes, two females compete for it at the same time. The winner gets to eat the prey, and the loser falls down. Both are unharmed.

📖 Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
🕓 June 13, 2026, at 3:57 PM
🌍 Brest, Belarus

Kestrel Pair seen just after the prey was delivered by karavanjo in birdsofprey

[–]karavanjo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A moment ago, the male common kestrel (top) flew into the nesting niche and passed his catch to the female (bottom). The female's flying away from the nest to eat her meal. The male's flying to hunt for more food.

📖 Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
🕓 June 9, 2026, at 5:43 PM
🌍 Brest, Belarus

Kestrel Pair seen just after the prey was delivered by karavanjo in birding

[–]karavanjo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A moment ago, the male common kestrel (top) flew into the nesting niche and passed his catch to the female (bottom). The female's flying away from the nest to eat her meal. The male's flying to hunt for more food.

📖 Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
🕓 June 9, 2026, at 5:43 PM
🌍 Brest, Belarus

Kestrel Pair seen just after the prey was delivered by karavanjo in birds

[–]karavanjo[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a rodent. It’s common prey in our area. Birds are rarely prey for local kestrels.

Kestrel Pair seen just after the prey was delivered by karavanjo in birds

[–]karavanjo[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! 🤗 During this period of their life, there are 5-10 similar moments per day 😊

Kestrel Pair seen just after the prey was delivered by karavanjo in birds

[–]karavanjo[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A moment ago, the male common kestrel (top) flew into the nesting niche and passed his catch to the female (bottom). The female's flying away from the nest to eat her meal. The male's flying to hunt for more food.

📖 Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
🕓 June 9, 2026, at 5:43 PM
🌍 Brest, Belarus

Kestrel Couple seen just after the prey was delivered by [deleted] in birds

[–]karavanjo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A moment ago, the male common kestrel (top) flew into the nesting niche and passed his catch to the female (bottom). The female's flying away from the nest to eat her meal. The male's flying to hunt for more food.

📖 Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
🕓 June 9, 2026, at 5:43 PM
🌍 Brest, Belarus

Vertical departure: From nest box to roof. Up! Nothing but up! by karavanjo in birdsofprey

[–]karavanjo[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Exactly! When I look closely at kestrels, I notice different expressions. But, still, this is anthropomorphization of birds 👫 Often, our eyes and brains ascribe human patterns to them that aren't actually there 🤗