Seychelles Kestrel
Falco araeus
Unusually small kestrel with a gray head, a rufous back, unmarked buff underparts, a barred tail, and a dark “moustache” mark on the face. Found on several of the granitic Seychelles Islands. Originally found in areas of rainforest with cliffs and other rocky areas; now found in secondary scrub, cultivated areas, plantations, and towns, as well as in remnant natural habitat. Unlike other kestrels, does not hover. Call is a high, repeated “krii.” Shares general falcon shape with migrant and vagrant falcons, including Eleanora’s and Sooty Falcons, but smaller, with shorter, less pointed wings.
Identification
It is the smallest of the kestrels, 18–23 cm long with a wingspan of 40–45 cm. The wings are fairly short and rounded. The adult male's upperparts are reddish brown with black spots while the underparts are unspotted and buff. The head and rump are dark blue-grey. The tail is blue-grey with black bars. The bill is dark and the feet and cere are yellow. Females are similar to the males in appearance but are a little larger and paler. Immature birds have a brown, streaked head, spots on the breast and a buff tip to the tail.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Falco araeus
- Authority
- (Oberholser, 1917)
- Order
- Falconiformes
- Family
- Falconidae
- Genus
- Falco
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
It can be seen in forest, scrub and farmland and around rock faces and houses. It rarely hovers, instead feeding by sitting on an exposed perch and waiting for prey to pass, then swooping down to catch it. Lizards, particularly green day geckos (Phelsuma) and skinks (Mabuya), make up 92% of its diet and it will also take small birds, frogs, rats and insects.<p>The breeding territory covers just 40 hectares, the smallest of any bird of prey. Breeding occurs from August to October. The nest site is on a cliff, tree or building. It is a simple scrape with no nest material used. Two or three eggs are laid; they are white with brown markings and are incubated for 28–31 days. The young birds fledge after 35–42 days and then remain with their parents for another 14 weeks.
Conservation
The species has a population of about 800 birds and is classified as vulnerable. Lowland nests have a high failure rate of about 70-80%. It probably bred throughout the granitic central Seychelles in the past but is currently known to breed only on Mahé, Silhouette, North Island, Praslin and some small adjacent islands. It was reintroduced to Praslin in 1977.<p>Threats are thought to include habitat loss due to logging, housing development and fires as well as predation and competition by introduced species. Rats, cats and barn owls have reduced the lizard population on which the kestrels depend and they may take eggs and chicks. Barn owls and common mynas have occupied many suitable nest sites.<p>Persecution by humans is now rare. In the past, kestrels were killed because they were thought to take chickens and because they were considered to be an omen of death.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Auckland Islands Teal
Anas aucklandica
Small, flightless dark brown duck, endemic to New Zealand. Males have green iridescence on head, dark chestnut-colored breast, and lightly barred flanks. Females are uniformly dark brown. Both sexes have distinct white eye-ring. Confined to the Auckland islands, where it occurs on all major islands except the main Auckland Island. Found on sheltered shorelines rummaging through windblown kelp piles. Also found on streams with adequate cover of tussock and sedges. Males give a soft trill as an alarm or territorial call. Females give a growl and a rapid quack. Distinguished from other New Zealand endemic teal species by location and light barring on sides.
Bundok Flycatcher
Ficedula luzoniensis
A small bird of montane forest undergrowth, where it perches motionless for long periods. Sooty-gray above with white under the base of the tail and on the belly blending to an orange chest and throat, slightly paler on the chin. Most races have a short, thin white eyebrow. Similar to Mugimaki Flycatcher, but has pinkish rather than black legs and lacks any white marks in the wing. Song is a simple, very high-pitched whistled melody.
Splendid Astrapia
Astrapia splendidissima
A long-tailed bird of montane forest. Black back and white base to the upper tail, more extensive in the male. Male has iridescent blue-green underparts, head and bib with rufous breast band and thin, rufous stripe down the side of the neck. Female has a black head and a barred belly. Feeds on fruit and searches for insects on mossy branches and epiphytes. Range of Ribbon-tailed Astrapia may just meet, but Splendid Astrapia female has white in the base of the upper tail. Call, a clicking sound.
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