Alternative names: Madagascar Kestrel; Newton's Kestrel; Aldabra Kestrel; Malagasy Spotted Kestrel; Madagascar Spotted Kestrel
- Falco newtoni
Identification
25 cm. Only falcon with rufous upperparts on Madagascar. Relatively small with short pointed wings.
- Occurs in two colour morphs
- Pale morph with rufous upperparts, grey head, white underparts and streaked black on upper breast
- Dark rufous morph with very dark head and neck and deep chestnut back and underparts
- Yellow legs and facial skin
Females are similar but browner overall and more distinctively marked above and below.
Juveniles have edged buff flight-feahters and more heavily streaked underparts.
Distribution
Found on Madagascar and Aldabra Islands. Perhaps a rare vagrant to the Comoro Islands.
Common and widespread on Madagascar, rare and local on Aldabra Islands.
Taxonomy
Most closely related to Seychelles Kestrel and Mauritius Kestrel.
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized[1].
- F. n. aldabranus - Aldabra (atoll north of Madagascar)
- F. n. newtoni - Madagascar
Habitat
Open woodland and cultivated land with scattered trees. On Aldabra usually in palm groves and open mixed scrub.
Occurs up to 2450 m, but mainly below 1800 m.
Behaviour
Usually seen singly or in pairs, rarely in small groups of up to 4 birds.
Diet
Feeds mainly on insects, takes also small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and some small birds. Still-hunts from a low branch or another perch, takes most food on the ground. Searches also by hovering low above the ground. Joins sometimes migrating Eleonora's Falcons and Sooty Falcons in crepuscular hawking.
Breeding
Breeding season mainly September to November. A monogamous and territorial species. Nets in cavities in buildings, cliff faces, quarries and trees, sometimes in old nests of Black Kites or Pied Crows. Lays usually four eggs.
Movements
No regular movements known, however appearance of this species on the Comoro Islands suggest some movements.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved August 2014)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Malagasy Kestrel. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 22 April 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Malagasy_Kestrel
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
