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kestrel |
Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.01 sec. |
kestrel [ˈkɛstrəl] n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any of several small falcons, esp the European Falco tinnunculus, that tend to hover against the wind and feed on small mammals on the ground [changed from Old French cresserele, from cressele rattle, from Vulgar Latin crepicella (unattested), from Latin crepitāre to crackle, from crepāre to rustle] ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
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| ? Mentioned in | ? References in classic literature | ||
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| Had ye slain him it would have been an ill day for you, for Robin Hood would have harried your town as the kestrel harries the dovecote. Of diversified habits innumerable instances could be given: I have often watched a tyrant flycatcher (Saurophagus sulphuratus) in South America, hovering over one spot and then proceeding to another, like a kestrel, and at other times standing stationary on the margin of water, and then dashing like a kingfisher at a fish. There were sparrow hawks, with white breasts, and kestrels, and down the slopes scampered, with their long legs, several fine fat bustards. |
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