The European Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), the most common native bird of prey in Germany besides the Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), is familiar in both the open landscape and habitations. The typical falcon silhouette with narrow, acute wings and a fairly long and narrow tail with a dark subterminal bar discriminates this species from the more compact-built, much rarer Hobby (F. subbuteo), the siginificantly larger Peregrine Falcon (F. peregrinus), and the similar-sized but more broad-winged Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus).

As a few other birds, the European Kestrel has successfully adapted to civilisation. Initially restricted to rocky habitats, it nowadays breeds at towers, bridges, pylons, and even in plant boxes on balconies. Additionally, tree-breeding has been proven, with occupation of nests of other bird species (e.g., Common Crow) as the falcon builds not its own nest. In case of lack of natural nesting sites or substitute places, kestrels may occupy artificial nest boxes. The clutch size is up to six, but on average just half the brood will survive.

The diet is typically hunted from a post or by flapping flight and consists of small mammals, particularly Common Voles (Microtus arvalis), large insects, and even bats. In cities, based on the scarcity of other food sources the kestrel is partly specialised on small birds (mainly sparrows), which are caught by surprise attacks.

In contrary to many other birds of prey, the species is still common both at the European and global scale, although recently there have been notable population decreases in parts of Europe (e.g., western countries, Russia). Nearly half of the central European population (up to 100.000 breeding pairs) is found in Germany. Globally, there is an estimated population of 1-2 million individuals. The distributional range covers almost the complete western Palaearctic region, extending to South Africa and eastern Asia (China, Japan), and oceanic islands where endemic forms may occur. For example, the Canary Islands host two (western islands to Gran Canaria: ssp. canariensis); eastern islands: dacotiae) of the altogether eleven subspecies of the European Kestrel.