With any luck, one day I’ll get a good photo of a Nankeen Kestrel! This is only the third one I’ve seen, though they’re quite common across mainland Australia. They’re lovely looking birds, and beautiful in flight too. This one was perched on a far-away bush:

A kestrel is a type of falcon, along with Hobbies and birds like Peregrine Falcons which have the word “falcon” in their name. Kestrels tend to be smaller than other falcons, and catch their prey on the ground by swooping down onto it. As far as I can tell, Nankeen Kestrels are the only type of kestrel in Australia.

Where does the name “Nankeen” come from? In Australia, we have Nankeen Herons as well as Nankeen Kestrels. Evidently the tawny colouring of these birds reminded the Australian settlers of the Chinese cotton cloth called Nankeen.

Common name: Nankeen Kestrel
Scientific name: Falco cenchroides
Length: 30-35 cm; wing span: 60-80 cm
Date spotted: 13 September 2026 (spring)
Location: Bendleby Ranges in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia: 32°21’13.7″S 138°47’34.8″E