1. Small Old World falcon that hovers in the air against a wind
   "The kestrel remained perfectly still while hovering above the meadow";
   - Falco tinnunculus
    
2. Small North American falcon
   "The American kestrel perched on the telephone wire watching for mice";
   - sparrow hawk, American kestrel, Falco sparverius

Derived forms: kestrels

Type of: falcon

Part of: Falco, genus Falco

Encyclopedia: Kestrel