45. ~ Kestrel ~

Once upon a time kestrels were called sparrow-hawks! They may have been called sparrow-hawks, but they are not hawks at all. The kestrel is the smallest of the falcon family. One of their favourite foods is the sparrow. The female has reddish wings and back. The male has a reddish back, a band of black at the tail, and bluish-grey wings. It is another beautiful bird. The males have a brighter blue head, and both genders have long white narrow patches on either side of their face. One each side of these patches are black stripes of equal length. The female has wings of rust colour. The kestrel has narrow wings and a long tail. The females have dark barring on their tail. They lay four to five eggs. Baby kestrels will poop on the walls of their nest by raising their tail. The females prefer to do their hunting out in open, perched upon fence posts and things. The male goes more for treed areas. The kestrel has a wingspan of twenty-four inches, and a body length of twelve inches. During mating season the female will take the company of up to three males, until she secures her preferred partner. Yet, the kestrel is not considered a particularly social bird.

Medicine:

Kestrel medicine teaches we can change our reputation if we are willing to try. The kestrel teaches us that patience brings wonderful changes. Kestrel medicine shows us that we need to be more observant and more attentive in our actions. The kestrel tells us to be vigilant in obtaining our goals. The beautiful kestrel teaches us to stay focused when and where it truly counts. Kestrel medicine shows us that sometimes we are just meant to sit tight, waiting for the perfect moment to present itself to us.