A bird of prey belonging to the genus Falco (family Falconidae), most of which hunt by hovering about 15 m above the ground, then swooping down to seize prey, consisting of a small vertebrate or large insect; other kestrels hunt on the wing. Kestrels are mainly brown and are often seen because they accept the proximity of people, nesting in buildings and hunting beside roads. There are about 14 species distributed worldwide.