Also called the Australian Kestrel this common raptor is found in Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands, and is an irregular visitor to New Zealand. It occupies any type of land that is not too densely vegetated but prefers temperate grasslands and open woodlands.
Their success as a bird of prey can be largely attributed to their tolerance for a broad range of habitats and an ability to feed on a variety of foods, they have also adapted well to European settlement.
They mainly feed on small mammals, reptiles, small birds and insects. Prey is spotted from a perch, or by hovering a short distance above the ground on rapid wing-beats, and is then pounced upon at great speed.
Males and females look alike and are generally monogamous, nesting sites vary widely and include tree hollows, caves, ledges on the outside of buildings, and occasionally on the ground. The nest consists of anything from a simple scrape in the dirt of a ledge or tree hollow to a nest of sticks or mud that has been abandoned by another species of bird. The female does the bulk of the incubation, while the male supplies the food.