Merlin and Kestrels

The Merlin (Falco columbarius) is Britain’s smallest bird of prey — no larger than a mistle thrush — and a feisty, swift-flying hunter of open moorland and coastal dunes. Males are a striking slate‑blue grey above with a rich orangey breast, while females are larger, dark brown and streaked all over. Unlike many falcons, it rarely soars or hovers, instead flying low and fast in short, powerful bursts to surprise small birds such as meadow pipits and skylarks. It nests on the ground among heather or in old crow nests, and in winter northern breeding birds migrate south, when they can also be seen along coasts and farmland. In the UK it is strongly associated with the uplands, particularly Scotland and northern England, and is Amber‑listed due to historic declines and ongoing vulnerability to moorland management changes.

The Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is Britain’s most familiar small falcon, famous for its unique ability to hover almost motionless in mid‑air — wings beating rapidly, tail fanned wide — while scanning the ground below for prey. Males have a striking blue‑grey head and tail, a warm spotted chestnut back and a creamy breast, while females are slightly larger, uniformly brown with darker streaks and fine barring on the tail. Both sexes have pointed wings, dark moustache marks beneath yellow eyes, and can actually see ultraviolet light, enabling them to follow the glowing urine trails left by voles — their favourite food — across grassy fields and roadside verges. They nest in natural tree hollows, cliff ledges, old buildings or abandoned crows’ nests rather than building their own, and are a common sight across farmland, heathland and even town gardens. Once a constant roadside companion, their numbers have declined significantly in recent decades, earning them Amber conservation status, yet they remain a welcome and iconic presence across the UK.