Kestrels

Question

kestrels don't hover ? re ; 
 Darren Oakley-Martin 
 on
 15 August 2009 at 16:23- (Latest posts on Blogs page) 
 Is this right? surely its a bit controversial to say that. Or is just myth I don't want busting. 
 My knowledge on flight is very limited. but surely i watch them hovering, The place I see them best doing this, is at the Mull o Galloway where oftent one is looking down on them and see this hovering action. So is hovering defined as flying into the wind and not getting anywhere.?? :-) Have I not seen them doing this elsewhere when there doesn't seem to be any wind.?? 
 ps I'm sure its right, its just the thought of them fighting against the wind rather than hovering - just take some of the romance/magic away 
 
 Susan

John B (not the sloop) · Accepted Answer

I'd call it hovering but they do need a bit of headwind to pull it off. In completely still air they'd need to create a lot of downdraft (like a helicopter) to hang in the air and they're not really powerful enough for that. I once saw a falconer try to demonstrate hovering with a young female Kestrel (called Jenny as it happened). It was a very still day and Jenny could only manage about 3 seconds of hover at a time. With a bit of breeze she could have hung there quite happily for much longer.

Soosin · Answer

Poor Darren, he'll be wishing he hadn't said anything

Darren Oakley-Martin · Answer

Andrew Village, in his seminal work The Kestrel writes: 
 ''In a strict aerodynamic sense, hovering means flying above a fixed ground position in still air. Kestrels need some wind if they are to stay in a fixed position because what they actually do is fly into the wind so that the forces of weight and drag are exactly matched by the lift from the airstream and the thrust of their wings.'' 
 In other words, they fly into and at a speed equal to that of the wind in order to remain still. On still days, with little or no wind, kestrels adapt a different strategy, that of perched-hunting, from telegraph poles, trees or other elevated positions. 
 I hope this clears up any confusion. 
 Best wishes, 
 Darren

Darren Oakley-Martin · Answer

Hello Susan, 
 There is no need for apologies! It depends whether we wish to use the scientific or literary meanings of the verb to hover. 
 Earlier in the thread, you mention that you think some of the romance is taken away from knowing that kestrels don't (technically) hover. 
 Maybe it's best to look at it slightly differently: kestrels are masters of the wind - they have it under their control and they use it to do their bidding, and they do so with an ease and proficiency that is beyond any other European landbird. 
 Best wishes, 
 Darren