Common kestrel

The common kestrel can be seen hovering over the field stalking its prey from above. It is one of Finland’s most visible hawk species and its distinctive cry kee-kee-kee is part of the summer landscape. For the winter, common kestrels migrate to Central and Southern Europe and Northern Africa.

Some decades ago the situation was dire for the common kestrel, mainly because of environmental toxins, but the species has since recovered. Nesting boxes placed on barn walls and into trees lining the fields have helped the species grow more numerous.

The kestrel living at Korkeasaari Zoo is a former patient of the Wildlife Hospital. It did not recover sufficiently during treatment to return to the wild, so a special permit was obtained from the authorities for it to live in the zoo.