Seychelles Kestrel
Falco araeus
The Seychelles Kestrel (Falco araeus) is a legendary falcons and caracara found only in the Seychelles, weighing about 80 g. The Seychelles kestrel is a small bird of prey belonging to the genus Falco in the falcon family, Falconidae.
About the Seychelles Kestrel
The Seychelles kestrel 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.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Seychelles Kestrel?
- It is the smallest of the kestrels, 18–23 cm long with a wingspan of 40–45 cm. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Seychelles Kestrel?
- The Seychelles Kestrel is a medium sized bird weighing about 80 g.
- Where can you see a Seychelles Kestrel?
- The Seychelles Kestrel is endemic to the Seychelles, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Seychelles Kestrel?
- The Seychelles Kestrel is most easily confused with the Banded Kestrel, the Mauritius Kestrel and the Saker Falcon.
- Is the Seychelles Kestrel endangered?
- The Seychelles Kestrel is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Seychelles Kestrel for real
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