- Falco punctatus
Identification
20-26 cm (7¾-10¼ in). A small, stout kestrel.
- Long tail, long legs and toes
- Relatively short, rounded wings
Sexes similar, juveniles with blue grey facial skin.
Distribution
Endemic to Mauritius Island in the Indian Ocean.
Formerly common on the island but in 1975 only one pair breed successfully. Habitat loss, predation by introduced Lesser Indian Mongoose and use of DDT were responsible for the decline. Conservation management and reintroductions with captive reared birds were successful and the population reached around 350 birds in 2012. Still considered endangered.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Originally in evergreen forest of which only small patches remain in southwest Mauritius Island. Now also induced to live in secondary forest and scrub.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds mainly on Phelsuma geckos. Takes also other lizards, small birds, dragonflies and sometimes mice and shrews.
Hunts from a perch below the canopy but can also be seen soaring or quartering over the canopy.
Breeding
Breeding season from August to November. Places its nest in holes in cliff faces or large trees. Now also in artifical nestboxes. Lays 2 to 5 eggs, usually 3. Juveniles remain in the parents territory until the next breeding season.
Movements
This is a resident species.
Reference
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2015. IOC World Bird Names (version 5.2). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved May 2015)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Mauritius Kestrel. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 22 April 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Mauritius_Kestrel
