kestrel
/'kestrəl/
Definition
- Noun:
- A small Old World falcon (Falco tinnunculus) known for its ability to hover in the air while facing into the wind.
- A small North American falcon, often referring to the American kestrel (Falco sparverius).
Usage
- The word "kestrel" is used to identify a specific type of small falcon. It functions solely as a noun.
- It is typically used in ornithological, wildlife, and general descriptive contexts.
Examples
- Noun:
- We spotted a kestrel hovering over the field, searching for prey.
- The American kestrel is the smallest and most common falcon in North America.
Advanced Usage
- "Windhover": A poetic or regional name for the common kestrel, derived from its distinctive hovering flight.
- The windhover hung motionless in the sky, a master of the air currents.
Variants and Related Words
- Falcon (n): A broader category of diurnal birds of prey to which kestrels belong.
- Kestrels, peregrines, and merlins are all types of falcons.
Synonyms
- Windhover: (chiefly British) A synonym for the common kestrel.
- Sparrow hawk: (North America, informal) A common name for the American kestrel, though it is not a true hawk.
Related Phrases and Idioms
Noun
-
small Old World falcon that hovers in the air against a wind
-
small North American falcon
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