When all goes quiet out there or the sparrows sit hidden in the hedge grumbling, it is probably due to the kestrel lurking for its prey from above. Quite regularly we can watch this small bird of prey here at our house. He often swoops down from his observation post in the birch towards the bird feeder - last week he even landed in it! Always full of hope to snatch one of the sparrows, finches or chickadees. In order to prevent the magpies from harassing the other birds during last year´s harsh winter, I had placed some uncooked offcuts from a beef roast out in the snow. Instead of the magpies then came the kestrel, which I had often observed during his acrobatic flights in summer. He took his time devouring this \"prey\" so we were able to take plenty of pictures!

The Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It is also known as the European Kestrel, Eurasian Kestrel, or Old World Kestrel. In Britain, where no other brown falcon occurs, it is generally just called the kestrel.

Common Kestrels measure 32–39 cm (13–15 in) from head to tail, with a wingspan of 65–82 cm (26–32 in). Females are noticeably larger, with the adult male weighing 136-252 g (c,5-9 oz), around 155 g (around 5.5 oz) on average; the adult female weighs 154-314 g (about 5.5-11 oz), around 184 g (around 6.5 oz) on average. They are thus small compared with other birds of prey, but larger than most songbirds. Like the other Falco species, they have long wings as well as a distinctive long tail.

Their plumage is mainly light chestnut brown with blackish spots on the upperside and buff with narrow blackish streaks on the underside; the remiges are also blackish. Unlike most raptors, they display sexual colour dimorphism with the male having less black spots and streaks, as well as a blue-grey cap and tail. The tail is brown with black bars in females, and has a black tip with a narrow white rim in both sexes.

All Common Kestrels have a prominent black malar stripe like their closest relatives. The cere feet, and a narrow ring around the eye are bright yellow; the toenails, bill and iris are dark. Juveniles look like adult females, but the underside streaks are wider; the yellow of their bare parts is paler. Hatchlings are covered in white down feathers, changing to a buff-grey second down coat before they grow their first true plumage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Kestrel