Malagasy Kestrel
Falco newtoni
Typical kestrel with a rufous back, barred tail, and dark “moustache” mark on the face. Can be rufous or white on the underparts. Found throughout Madagascar in almost all habitats except thick forest. Conspicuous in towns and villages, where it often nests on buildings. Spends much of its time on the wing, often hovering. Call is a high, repeated “keek.” Smaller and slimmer than Banded Kestrel, rufous rather than gray, and without broad bars on the belly.
Identification
It can reach a size of 30 cm. The wings are 180 mm to 195 mm at the males and 188 mm to 203 mm at the females. The males can reach a weight between 112 and 118 grams. The weight of the females is up to 128 grams. The head and the nape of the males is rufous grey with dark streaks. A dark moustachial streak running from the basis of the bill backwards to sides of the throat. The upperparts and the wingcoverts are chestnut with black spots. The uppertail coverts are grey with blackish spots. The long flight feathers are blackish brown, the inner webs are covered with white and chestnut spots. The underparts are whitish. The short flight feathers are chestnut coloured and dark banded. The chest, belly and underwing coverts are covered with black spots. The tail is grey coloured. It has six to seven narrow black bars and a broad subterminal bar. All feathers have white tips. In addition there is a rufous phase. At this morph the head and nape are almost black. Body and underwing coverts are dark chestnut brown with black streaks and spots. The throat exhibits a buffish-white hue. The underwing coverts are greyish white and spotted black. The head of the females is stronger chestnut coloured. The underparts are more spotted and the tail is brown with black bars. Both sexes exhibits a slate grey bill with a black tip. The cere is yellow. The legs are either yellow or bright orange (rufous morph). The juveniles are similar coloured as the females.<p>The Aldabra kestrel looks similar to the Malagasy kestrel but it is slightly smaller. The wings are 170 mm to 183 mm at the males and 177 mm to 186 mm at the females. Some females exhibit entirely white underparts.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Falco newtoni
- Authority
- (Gurney, JH Sr, 1863)
- Order
- Falconiformes
- Family
- Falconidae
- Genus
- Falco
Range and habitat
The Malagasy kestrel has a large range of occurrence and it is native to Madagascar, Mayotte, and the Comores. It is a breeding resident on Madagascar where it occurs in savannas and wetlands but also artificial landscapes in the vicinity of human settlements in altitudes from 0 to 2000 asl. It is uncommon in forests. The habitat of the Aldabra kestrel is the Aldabran Island of Grande Terre but there is also an evidence for the island of Anjouan at the Comores.<p>The Malagasy kestrel usually nests on rock ledges, in buildings, in tree holes, or in the stick nests of other birds, such as the pied crow. Four to six eggs are laid, usually in September, and are incubated by the female only, who is fed by the male at regular intervals during incubation.<p>Insects take up the majority of the Malagasy kestrel's diet, which are usually taken during flight, but it also occasionally eats small birds, frogs, and mammals, all of which are taken on the ground. It hunts from a low perch, hawking or hovering with the wing, at dawn or dusk.<p>The Malagasy kestrel's call consists of a sharp scream of iitsi, kitsi, kitsi, kitsi or a loud repeated twitter.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Yellow-throated Nicator
Nicator vireo
A shy but loud bird of forests and forest edges that usually stays within cover. Shaped like a greenbul, but has a thicker, more robust bill. Shows grayish underparts, greenish upperparts, yellow spots on the tips of the flight feathers and upperwing coverts, a yellow throat, and yellow lores. Similar to the larger Western Nicator, but note Yellow-throated’s smaller size, yellow throat and lores, and distinctive song, which often betrays its presence: a sputtering series of notes that can be surprisingly resonant and loud, a “p-p-p-po-keer-ko-wheeeer-pop” and other variations. Call is a growling trill, “prrrrrr.”
Olive Sunbird
Cyanomitra olivacea
Large, dark, olive-green sunbird with a long, down-curved bill. Can show yellow tufts on the shoulders, though these are usually hidden. Found in forest and adjacent gardens and lush scrub. Usually in the understory. Less social than other sunbirds, and often seen alone. Most distinctive vocalization is a pretty, up-and-down series of clear notes. Mouse-colored Sunbird is similar, but Olive Sunbird is more olive-green than gray.
Cassin's Vireo
Vireo cassinii
Fairly dull vireo, intermediate between Blue-headed and Plumbeous. Grayish-olive overall, but with yellowish flanks and greenish back. Note white spectacles contrasting with gray head and two whitish wingbars. Breeds in mixed coniferous forests, especially in mountainous areas; winters in Mexico. Often separable from Blue-headed and Plumbeous Vireos by range, but can overlap during migration and winter. Cassin's is less contrasty than Blue-headed, especially between the gray face and whitish throat, and the greenish back blends into the nape and crown. Some birds are best left unidentified.
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