Some type of Kestrel/Falcon

[Ken Watkins]

Can anybody please give me an idea of this?

Taken on Savute Marsh, Botswana.

[John Chardine]

Hi Ken- I've done some research on this one, as you probably have, and I'm stumped. I agree it looks like a falcon and that would be the place to start the search. Your bird looks more like a falcon than an accipiter. Your image gives the impression of a slim, petite bird. You could be dealing with a young bird here.

[Isaac Green]

I agree with the above, the beak and nostril structure places this as a falco. The apparent size suggests a kestrel. When I first looked at the image, my gut response was a pale, female Eurasian Kestrel aka Common Kestrel. I am not with familiar the other African kestrel species in person, but a little research shows that a very good candidate would be a female Lesser Kestrel, which is mentioned as often being paler than the common kestrel and often having a 'cleaner cheek' or reduced eye stripe, which this bird shows. Given that, I'd wager a female Lesser Kestrel.

[Ken Watkins]

Thanks for the input, Bird identification is very difficult.

I am in UK at moment and will check the suggestions in my various books on my return