This amazing video shows a kestrel hovering in mid-air while keeping its head perfectly still. Because of this remarkable ability, the kestrel is sometimes known in English as a windhover.
The bird turns directly into the wind, rapidly beats its wings, and spreads its tail into a broad fan. Meanwhile, its head remains almost completely motionless, allowing it to keep its gaze fixed on a single spot on the ground.
A kestrel hovers like this while searching for prey, sometimes remaining in one place for around half a minute. If it spots nothing, it moves a short distance and “drops anchor” again to scan the next patch of ground.
This technique requires a great deal of muscular effort, which is why kestrels usually do not hover in completely calm weather: maintaining a hover without the help of a headwind is simply too exhausting.