The meaning of Sickle

The word falco, from falcon, means sickle. We’re watching Lesser Kestrels hunting in the fields outside Matera. It’s a breathtaking spot:

Across the nature reserve we can see a distant view of the city through the Giant Fennel:

The Lesser Kestrels hunt on the wing and swoop onto their prey:

We’ve seen them eat grasshoppers, crickets, centipedes, small rodents and three-toed skinks:

The use of the word ‘sickle’ to describe them is meant to be because of their talons. It seems more sensible that it comes from the shape of their wings. Like a sharpened sickle, Lesser Kestrels are just as deadly.