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GrasslandCavity nestMedium · 123 g
ID tip
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. Voice: The Malagasy kestrel's call consists of a sharp scream of iitsi, kitsi, kitsi, kitsi or a loud repeated twitter.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Malagasy Kestrel
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 6 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Malagasy Kestrel
The map shades 2 countries with regular records, and 1 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in Moldova.
About the Malagasy Kestrel
The Malagasy kestrel, also known as the Madagascar kestrel, Malagasy spotted kestrel, Newton's kestrel, Madagascar spotted kestrel, katiti (Creole) or hitsikitsika (Malagasy), is a small bird of prey of the genus Falco. It is named after British ornithologist Edward Newton. It occurs in two subspecies on Madagascar and at Aldabra. The race from Aldabra is also called Aldabra kestrel. Its closest living relative is the Seychelles kestrel; they were at one time considered conspecific. Their common ancestors appear to have diverged very recently, probably less than 1 million years ago during the Early or Middle Pleistocene. The Mauritius kestrel is more distantly related.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
African HobbyFalco cuvieriiA small, slim falcon with blackish upperparts and deep rufous underparts with rufous cheek, nape and throat.
Laggar FalconFalco juggerThe laggar falcon, also known as the lugger falcon or jugger, is a mid-sized bird of prey which occurs in the Indian subcontinent from extreme southeastern Iran, southeastern Afghanistan, Pakistan, through India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and northwestern Myanmar.
Dickinson's KestrelFalco dickinsoniIt is a fairly small, stocky kestrel with a large, square head.
Side by side: African Hobby vs Malagasy Kestrel
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