Falco tinnunculus
The Common Kestrel is a small, highly adaptable falcon, often observed at the edge of settlements in the Danube Delta or above sandbars. It is renowned for its hovering flight, holding a fixed position in the sky through rapid wing beats.
The male has a grey-blue head and rufous back with black spots, while the female is larger and has uniform brown-rufous plumage with transverse streaks. Both show a discreet black subocular stripe (moustache) and black talons.
In the Danube Delta, it prefers open areas on sandbars (Letea, Caraorman) and forest edges, where it can hunt efficiently. It is a resident species, visible throughout the year, often perched on poles or power lines watching for prey.
It hunts mainly rodents (voles), but also large insects (grasshoppers) or small birds. Its technique of hovering in a fixed point above the ground allows it to scan vegetation with incredible precision before plunging onto prey.
It nests in cavities – on cliffs, buildings, towers or abandoned corvid nests. Lays 4–6 eggs, incubated for approximately 28–31 days. Chicks are fed by both parents and leave the nest after 4–5 weeks.
Status is "Least Concern" (LC). The population is stable, though the species can be affected by excessive pesticide use in agricultural areas bordering the Delta, which reduces its main food source.