Surprisingly, for one of Europe's commoner birds of prey, relatively little is known about some aspects of the Kestrel's behaviour and associations.

Dr Village's book leaves us far better informed and is an inviting combination of readability and scholarship that reflects his dedication and enthusiasm for Falco tinnunculus. The author studied the Kestrel for several years in Scottish hill country and sheepwalk, then in two agricultural areas of eastern England, but his book also includes much valuable observation and data from Europe and elsewhere.

Its twenty-one chapters cover all aspects of the Kestrel's life cycle, with special emphasis on breeding performance, population densities and turnover, and age and sex ratios. A section of over seventy tables of supporting data concludes the book.

Keith Brockie has contributed over 30 illustrations which admirably enhance the pages.