Editing Common kestrel (section)

=== Food and feeding ===
[[File:Common-Kestrel-4.jpg|thumb]]
[[File:Common-Kestrel-2.jpg|thumb]]
When hunting, the common kestrel characteristically hovers about {{convert|10|-|20|m|ft|round=5|abbr=on}} above the ground, searching for prey, either by flying into the wind or by soaring using [[ridge lift]]. Like most [[birds of prey]], common kestrels have keen eyesight enabling them to spot small prey from a distance. Once prey is sighted, the bird makes a short, steep dive toward the target, unlike the [[peregrine falcon|peregrine]] which relies on longer, higher dives to reach full speed when targeting prey. Kestrels can often be found hunting along the sides of roads and motorways, where the [[road verge]]s support large numbers of prey. This [[species]] is able to see [[near ultraviolet]] light, allowing the birds to detect the [[urine]] trails around [[rodent]] burrows as they shine in an ultraviolet colour in the sunlight.<ref name=Viitala1995/> Another favourite (but less conspicuous) hunting technique is to perch a bit above the ground cover, surveying the area. When the bird spots prey animals moving by, it will pounce on them. They also prowl a patch of hunting ground in a ground-hugging flight, ambushing prey as they happen across it.<ref name=Orta1994/>

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They eat almost exclusively mouse-sized [[mammal]]s. [[Vole]]s, [[shrew]]s and true [[mice]] supply up to three-quarters or more of the [[biomass]] most individuals ingest. On oceanic islands (where [[mammal]]s are often scarce), small [[bird]]s (mainly [[passerine]]s) may make up the bulk of its diet.<ref name=Wiles2004/> Elsewhere, birds are only an important food during a few weeks each summer when inexperienced [[fledgling (birds)|fledgling]]s abound. Other suitably sized [[vertebrate]]s like [[bat]]s, [[Swift (bird)|swift]]s,<ref name=Mikula2013/> [[frog]]s{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}} and [[lizard]]s are eaten only on rare occasions. However, kestrels are more likely to prey on lizards in southern latitudes. In northern latitudes, the kestrel is found more often to deliver lizards to their nestlings during midday and also with increasing ambient temperature.<ref name=Steen2011a/> Seasonally, [[arthropod]]s may be a main prey item. Generally, [[invertebrate]]s like [[camel spider]]s and even [[earthworm]]s, but mainly sizeable [[insect]]s such as [[beetle]]s, [[orthoptera]]ns and winged [[termite]]s will be eaten.<ref name=Orta1994/>

The common kestrel requires the equivalent of 4–8 voles a day, depending on energy expenditure (time of the year, amount of hovering, etc.). They have been known to catch several voles in succession and [[hoarding (animal behavior)|cache]] some for later consumption. An individual nestling consumes on average 4.2&nbsp;g/h, equivalent to 67.8&nbsp;g/d (3–4 voles per day).<ref name=Steen2011b/>