Editing Lesser kestrel (section)

==Taxonomy==
Despite its outward similarity, this species appears not to be closely related to the common kestrel. In fact, [[mtDNA]] [[cytochrome b|cytochrome ''b'']] [[DNA sequence|sequence]] analysis places it at a [[Basal (phylogenetics)|basal]] position with regards to the other "true" kestrels (i.e., excluding the [[American kestrel]] and probably the grey [[Kestrel#Description|African kestrels]] as well).<ref name=Groombridge2002/> Its divergence is tentatively placed to around the [[Miocene]]-[[Pliocene]] boundary ([[Messinian]] to [[Zanclean]], or about 7–3.5 [[mya (unit)|mya]]). The [[morphology (biology)|morphological]] similarity with the common kestrel is most puzzling, but still it appears to betray the present species' actual relationships: the lack of a [[Cheek|malar]] stripe seems ancestral for kestrels, and the grey wing colour unites the lesser kestrel with most other ''Falco'' species, but not the other true kestrels.

[[File:Lesser Kestrel.png|thumb|Lesser kestrel&nbsp;– a very rare winter migrant to India]]