Rock Kestrel
Rock KestrelRock KestrelRock KestrelRock Kestrel

Rock Kestrel

Falco rupicolus

5–10% · With luck
overall probability at Etosha National Park
89 Verified records at Etosha National Park
December Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The rock kestrel (Falco rupicolus) is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It was previously considered a subspecies of the common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). This species occurs in Africa, from northwestern Angola and southern Democratic Republic of Congo to southern Tanzania, and south to South Africa. Wikipedia →

5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Rock Kestrel sighting in Etosha National Park, based on 89 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Etosha National Park

Greater Kestrel
LC

Greater Kestrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco rupicoloides

20–30% · Possible
Red-necked Falcon
NT

Red-necked Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco chicquera

20–30% · With luck
Lanner Falcon
LC

Lanner Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco biarmicus

5–10% · With luck
Lesser Kestrel
LC

Lesser Kestrel

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco naumanni

<5% · Rare
Eurasian Hobby
LC

Eurasian Hobby

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco subbuteo

<5% · Rare
Red-footed Falcon
VU

Red-footed Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco vespertinus

<5% · Rare
Amur Falcon
LC

Amur Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco amurensis

<5% · Rare
Peregrine Falcon
LC

Peregrine Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco peregrinus

<5% · Rare
African Pygmy Falcon
LC

African Pygmy Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Polihierax semitorquatus

<5% · Rare

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
10–20
Feb
<5
Mar
5–10
Apr
5–10
May
<5
Jun
<5
Jul
5–10
Aug
<5
Sep
5–10
Oct
<5
Nov
10–20
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
20–30%
2 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
3 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
10–20%
4 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
5 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
6 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
5–10%
7 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
8 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
9 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
10 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
11 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data
12 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data
13 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
Insufficient data
14 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Rock Kestrel in Etosha National Park?

About 6% of wildlife watchers report a Rock Kestrel sighting in Etosha National Park, based on 89 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Rock Kestrel in Etosha National Park?

December has the highest sighting rate for Rock Kestrel in Etosha National Park in our monthly data.

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