Medium small. Frequently seen hovering. Sexes differ. Female larger.
Male: Crown, nape, pale grey. Forehead, face, chin, white with dark malar stripe. Upperparts, pale rufous with dark streaking and dark wing tips. Underparts, off white. Tail, grey with dark subterminal band and white tip. Cere, yellow. Eyering, yellow. Legs, yellow.
Female: Like male but duller and more heavily streaked. Crown, nape, tail, rufous.
Immatures: Similar to female but browner and with dark centres to back feathers.
Other Names (World)
Nankeen Kestrel, Australian Kestrel, Hoverer, Mosquito Hawk, Sparrowhawk, Windhover
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
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BirdLife International Species Factsheet