The Seychelles kestrel (Falco araeus) is a small bird of prey belonging to the genus Falco in the falcon family, Falconidae. It is endemic to the Seychelles Islands where it is the only breeding bird of prey. It is known in Seychellois Creole as the katiti after its loud, shrill call.
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.
Ecology
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.
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.
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.
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.
References
^BirdLife International (2016). "Falco araeus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22696380A93558237. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22696380A93558237.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
Ferguson-Lees, James & Christie, David A. (2001) Raptors of the World, Christopher Helm, London.
Penny, Malcolm (1974) The Birds of Seychelles and the Outlying Islands, Collins, London.
Skerrett, Adrian; Bullock, Ian & Disley, Tony (2001) Birds of Seychelles, Christopher Helm, London.
External links
Wikispecies has information related to Falco araea.
Nature Seychelles: Seychelles kestrel
January 06, 2023
seychelles, kestrel, falco, araeus, small, bird, prey, belonging, genus, falco, falcon, family, falconidae, endemic, seychelles, islands, where, only, breeding, bird, prey, known, seychellois, creole, katiti, after, loud, shrill, call, conservation, statusvuln. The Seychelles kestrel Falco araeus is a small bird of prey belonging to the genus Falco in the falcon family Falconidae It is endemic to the Seychelles Islands where it is the only breeding bird of prey It is known in Seychellois Creole as the katiti after its loud shrill call Seychelles kestrelConservation statusVulnerable IUCN 3 1 1 CITES Appendix I CITES 2 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder FalconiformesFamily FalconidaeGenus FalcoSpecies F araeusBinomial nameFalco araeus Oberholser 1917 SynonymsFalco araea Contents 1 Description 2 Ecology 3 Conservation 4 References 5 External linksDescription EditIt 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 Ecology EditIt 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 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 EditThe 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 Mahe Silhouette North Island Praslin and some small adjacent islands It was reintroduced to Praslin in 1977 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 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 References Edit BirdLife International 2016 Falco araeus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22696380A93558237 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22696380A93558237 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 2022 01 14 BirdLife International 2007 Species factsheet Falco araea Downloaded from http www birdlife org on 30 7 2007 Barilari M 2010 Biologia conservazione e problemi evolutivi di specie minacciate in ambiente insulare tropicale il Gheppio delle Seychelles Falco araea PhD dissertation University of Urbino Carlo Bo download from http www openthesis org documents Biologia conservazione e problemi evolutivi 602901 html Ferguson Lees James amp Christie David A 2001 Raptors of the World Christopher Helm London Penny Malcolm 1974 The Birds of Seychelles and the Outlying Islands Collins London Skerrett Adrian Bullock Ian amp Disley Tony 2001 Birds of Seychelles Christopher Helm London External links Edit Wikispecies has information related to Falco araea Nature Seychelles Seychelles kestrel Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Seychelles kestrel amp oldid 1109694900, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
