kestrel

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kes·trel

(kĕs′trəl)

1. A small falcon (Falco sparverius) found throughout the Americas, having vertical black stripes under the eyes and characteristically hovering over fields to hunt. Also called sparrow hawk.

2. A small falcon (Falco tinnunculus) of Europe, Asia, and Africa that hovers when hunting and has reddish-brown plumage and a gray head.

3. Any of various similar falcons of the genus Falco that hover when hunting.

[Probably from obsolete French cresserelle, from Old French cresserele, probably from cresselle, clacker, kestrel.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

kestrel

(ˈkɛstrəl)

(Animals) any of several small falcons, esp the European Falco tinnunculus, that tend to hover against the wind and feed on small mammals on the ground

[C15: changed from Old French cresserele, from cressele rattle, from Vulgar Latin crepicella (unattested), from Latin crepitāre to crackle, from crepāre to rustle]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

kes•trel

(ˈkɛs trəl)

n.

any of various small falcons that hover as they hunt, esp. Falco sparverius, of North America, and F. tinnunculus, of Eurasia.

[1400–50; late Middle English castrell < Middle French quercerelle]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	kestrel - small North American falcon American kestrel, Falco sparverius, sparrow hawk falcon - diurnal birds of prey having long pointed powerful wings adapted for swift flight Falco, genus Falco - a genus of Falconidae
	2.	kestrel - small Old World falcon that hovers in the air against a wind Falco tinnunculus falcon - diurnal birds of prey having long pointed powerful wings adapted for swift flight Falco, genus Falco - a genus of Falconidae

Translations

valk

керкенезсоколчерношипа ветрушка

falcóxoriguerxoriguer comúxoriguer gros

poštolkapoštolka obecná

falktårnfalk

Turmfalke Falke

βραχοκιρκίνεζο κιρκινέζι

falkokestreloturfalko

cernícalo comúnhalcón

tuuletallaja

haukkajalohaukkatuulihaukka

crécerelle crécerellette faucon

sokol

vércsevörös vércse

fálkihaukurturnfálkivalur

gheppio falco falcone

황조롱이

falco

pelėsakalis

torenvalkvalk

falk hauktårnfalk

pustułka sokół

falcãopeneireiro-vulgar

пустельга пустельга обыкновенная

sokolsokol myšiar

navádna postôvkasokol

sokoсоко

falktornfalk

bayağı kerkenezkerkenez

боривiтерпостiльгасапсансокіл

chim cắt

kestrel

[ˈkestrəl] N → cernícalo m (vulgar)

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

kestrel

[ˈkɛstrəl] n → faucon m crécerelle

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

kestrel

n → Turmfalke m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

kestrel

[ˈkɛstr/əl] n → gheppio

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

Had ye slain him it would have been an ill day for you, for Robin Hood would have harried your town as the kestrel harries the dovecote.

View in context

Of diversified habits innumerable instances could be given: I have often watched a tyrant flycatcher (Saurophagus sulphuratus) in South America, hovering over one spot and then proceeding to another, like a kestrel, and at other times standing stationary on the margin of water, and then dashing like a kingfisher at a fish.

View in context

There were sparrow hawks, with white breasts, and kestrels, and down the slopes scampered, with their long legs, several fine fat bustards.

View in context

Similar to most birds of prey, females of the Eurasian Kestrel appear larger than males, weighing almost 200 gm, much smaller in comparison with the largest falcon, the Gyr that may weigh close to one-and-half-kilo and 65cm tall.

Researcher spots falcons nesting atop Interchange 5/6

When did you last see the glorious hovering of a kestrel? Or when did you last hear the 'little bit of bread but no cheese' announcement of a yellowhammer or hear the magnificent anthem of a skylark?

Wildlife on the brink

This is a familiar story when it comes to raptors, all of which, with the possible exception of the kestrel, clearly project the fact that unhesitatingly they are killers.

Goshawk is a prince among birds of prey

CargoGulf, a leading global NVOCC (non-vessel operating common carrier) operator, has responded to the strong growth in UK's exports by extending its reach with the appointment of Kestrel Liner Agencies as its liner service agent for the country.

CargoGulf appoints new UK liner service agent

Dr Zubair Medammal and his team watch the Eurasian Kestrel. Joseph Varghese

Kestral makes Interchange 5/6 its home

Noted Indian falcon researcher Zubair Medammal found the nesting of Eurasian Kestrel, a species of falcon, during his visit to Doha.

Qatar's architectural marvel turns safe nesting spot for falcons

SIGNIFICANT acquisitions are on the cards by Kestrel Group on behalf of South Africa's Marr Holdings.

More Kestrel Group acquisitions on the cards

BARRY Hines's novel, A Kestrel For a Knave, published 50 years ago, became a Yorkshire classic - even more so when Ken Loach turned it into the film Kes.

Theatre; Inside Out; Quick guide to turning your free time into fun time

When Barry Hines published his novel A Kestrel for a Knave 50 years ago, it became something of a Yorkshire classic - even more so when Ken Loach made it into the film Kes.