The Greater Kestrel or White-eyed Kestrel (Falco rupicoloides) is a bird of prey belonging to the falcon family. It is one of the largest kestrels and is found in open country in southern and eastern Africa.
The bird is 29–37 cm long with a wingspan of 68–84 cm.
The species is usually silent but has a shrill, repeated call.
The Greater Kestrel usually hunts from an exposed perch such as a tree or rock. It also hovers like several other kestrels. It feeds mainly on invertebrates such as grasshoppers, termites, and beetles. It also takes lizards and sometimes small birds, mammals and snakes. It mainly catches prey on the ground. It is attracted to fires where it catches insects and other prey as they flee from the flames. Excess food may be cached underneath vegetation or stones.
And I thought I’d play around with one and make it a pencil sketch…. here’s the result…