Scientific Name: Falco tinnunculus
Malay Name: Rajawali-Padang Biasa
Chinese Name: 红隼
Breed range extends from Europe, Africa, temperate Asia, Middle-East, northern Indian subcontinent, western and southern China, Korea to Japan with some northern populations wintering south to Africa, Indian subcontinent, southern China, Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia
Polytypic. Subspecies are: tinnunculus, perpallidus, interstinctus, objurgatus, canariensis, dacotiae, neglectus, alexandri, rupicolaeformis, archeri, rufescens.
Size: 30-34 cm
Male has slaty-grey crown, nape, rump to uppertail, broad black subterminal tail-band, rufous rest of upperparts and wing-coverts with blackish markings, dark moustachial/cheek stripe and pale buffish underparts with dark streaks/spots on breast, belly and flanks. Female resembles male but has dark-streaked warm brown crown/nape and duller rufous upperparts with dark bars.
Similar looking species: Lesser Kestrel
Habitat: Open country, reclaimed land and grasslands.
Local Status: Rare migrant
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)
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Past accepted records in our database: (not a complete listing)
BirdLife International. (2016). Falco tinnunculus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. Downloaded on 2 September 2021
Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.
Lim, K. S. (2009). The Avifauna of Singapore. Nature Society (Singapore).
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.