What does kestrel mean?
Word: Kestrel
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Kestrel means a small bird of prey, a kind of falcon, that can hover in one spot high in the air.
How do you spell kestrel?
Syllables: kes - trel
Tricky part: The ending is rel, though it is said so quickly that children write ral or ril.
Watch out for: kestral, kestril
Memory tip: End the bird's name the way barrel and quarrel end, with rel.
Kestrel in a sentence
Example 1: A kestrel hovered over the grass beside the highway.
Example 2: The kestrel sat on an electric wire and watched the field.
Example 3: Kestrels are seen in many parts of India in winter.
Fun Fact
Kestrels can see ultraviolet light, which people cannot. Scientists think this helps them find the trails that voles leave in the grass.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) kingfisher
b) kestrel
c) woodpecker
d) nightingail
Show answer
d) nightingail. Nightingale ends in gale, like a strong wind; the other three birds are spelt correctly.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
rtlekes
a) kernels
b) kettles
c) kestrel
d) keepers
Show answer
c) kestrel. Only one option has the t, the r and the l of the jumble together: kernels and keepers lack the t, and kettles lacks the r.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
k_s_rel
a) i, t
b) a, t
c) e, t
d) e, d
Show answer
c) e, t. The first beat is kes, with an e, and the second begins with t.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
kesstrel
a) s
b) l
c) k
d) t
Show answer
a) s. One s is enough between the e and the t.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A kestrel is hanging still in the air over a field. What is it most likely doing?
a) resting after a long trip
b) waiting for the rain to stop
c) watching the ground for food
d) building a nest in the sky
Show answer
c) watching the ground for food
2. Which phrase best describes the beak of a kestrel?
a) long and straight
b) thin and curved up
c) wide and flat
d) short and hooked
Show answer
d) short and hooked
