Malagasy kestrel

TheMalagasy kestrel(Falco newtoni), also known as theMadagascar kestrel,Malagasy spotted kestrel,Newton's kestrel,Madagascar spotted kestrel,katiti(Creole)orhitsikitsika(Malagasy), is a small bird of prey of the genusFalco. It is named after British ornithologistEdward Newton. It occurs in two subspecies onMadagascarand atAldabra. The race from Aldabra is also calledAldabra kestrel(Falco newtoni aldabranus). Its closest living relative is theSeychelles kestrel; they were at one time consideredconspecific. Their common ancestors appear to have diverged very recently, probably less than 1 million years ago during theEarlyorMiddle Pleistocene.
TheMauritius kestrelis more distantly related.(Groombridgeet al.2002)
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.
The Malagasy kestrel has a large range of occurrence and it is native toMadagascar,Mayotte, and theComores. 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 evidence for the island ofAnjouanat theComores.
The Malagasy kestrel usually nests on rock ledges, in buildings, in tree holes, or in the stick nests of other birds, such as thepied 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.
Insects take up the majority of the Malagasy kestrel's diet, which are usually taken during flight, but it also occasionally eats smallbirds,frogs, andmammals, all of which are taken on the ground.  It hunts from a low perch, hawking or hovering with the wing, at dawn or dusk.
The Malagasy kestrel's call consists of a sharp scream ofiitsi, kitsi, kitsi, kitsior a loud repeated twitter.