Mauritius kestrel

It can reach a size between 26 and 30.5 cm. The weight is up to 250 grams. The males are slightly smaller than the females. The wing is approximately 45 cm and are rounded, unlike those of other falcons.

The Mauritius kestrel is classified as Vulnerable (VU), considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

The Mauritius Kestrel (Falco punctatus) is a bird of prey from the family Falconidae endemic to the forests of Mauritius, where it is restricted to the southwestern plateau's forests, cliffs, and ravines. It is the most distinct of the Indian Ocean kestrels. It colonized its island home to evolve into a distinct species probably during the Gelasian (Late Pliocene). It is the most distant living species among the western Indian Ocean kestrels (Groombridge et al. 2002, qv Réunion Kestrel). More

Physical Appearance: The Mauritius kestrel is small falcon with short wings and a long tail. Diet: Geckos form the largest part of the kestrel diet. Kestrels also eat small birds (even the endangered pink pigeon), mice, shrews(small, slender mouselike animals), and insects. Predators: Black rats (Rattus rattus), mongooses (Herpestes auropuncatatus), feral cats (Felis catus) and monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) hunt kestrels. More

The Mauritius kestrel is a small falcon that was rescued from the brink of extinction by a world-renowned conservation programme (4). It is small, with relatively short wings, a long tail and long legs (5), which bear short talons (6). The upperparts are a rich brown colour with black barring, and the underparts are white with dark spots (5). Juveniles have bluish-grey facial skin, which turns yellow after a year. More

The Mauritius Kestrel hunts by means of short, swift flights through forests. It is carnivorous, eating geckos, dragonflies, cicadas, cockroaches, crickets, and small birds. Conservation The story of this bird is one of the most remarkable conservation stories. In pre-colonial time the population was estimated between 175 and 325 breeding pairs. This small population was caused most likely by deforestation in the 18th century and by cyclones. More

Endangered Mauritius kestrel (Falco punctatus) was successfully re-introduced into the Bambous mountain range, Mauritius, some 30 years after its ... More

The Mauritius kestrel (Falco punctatus), endemic to Mauritius in the Indian Ocean and the island's only bird of prey, is the world's rarest falcon. Its known population had been reduced to two breeding pairs by the early 1970s, when it became the world's rarest bird. It has been studied since 1973, when conservation efforts began to prevent its extinction. The Mauritius kestrel is a distinct island form, with males averaging 130-140g and females 160-170g. Adult females and immatures are indistinguishable by plumage. More

The Mauritius Kestrel Falco punctatus was once regarded as the World More

Description: The Mauritius kestrel is a small falcon adapted to living in forests. It has short rounded wings and a relatively long tail and legs. Lacking some of the colour of its North American cousin, its plumage is brown barred with black on its back, upper wings and tail. Its ventral surface is white, spotted with dark brown and black. Kestrels measure 15-18 cm from beak to tail, and weigh 135 to 165 g. Males are slightly smaller than females. More

Mauritius Kestrel in Kestrel Valley for the long term at Le domaine d'Anse Jonchee The Mauritius Kestrel MEASUREMENTS: The Mauritius Kestrel has a body length of 8 - 10 inches, an approximate wingspan of 1 1/2 feet, and weighs 6 - 8 ounces. HABITAT: Mauritius Kestrels are limited to the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. Historically these kestrels lived in forests throughout the island. More

The Mauritius kestrel suffered from habitat loss, the introduction of monkeys and mongooses which ate its eggs, hunting as a pest, and widespread spraying of DDT. By 1973, the world population of the Mauritius kestrel was down to six birds. The situation was so grim that in 1979, the International Council for Bird Preservation sent Carl Jones to shut down the effort to save the bird. Luckily for the kestrel, Jones refused to follow orders. More

The Mauritius kestrel is a small falcon that was rescued from the brink of extinction by a world-renowned conservation programme. It is small, with relatively short wings, a long tail and long legs, which bear short talons. The upperparts are a rich ... More

The Mauritius Kestrel population seems to have survived a prolonged period of volcanic activity, which must have kept the population small and fluctuating as habitat, food, and kestrels were destroyed by volcanic eruptions time and again. As near-panmictic conditions were sustained for many generations, alleles that might cause inbreeding depression were steadily removed by means of natural selection. More

Mauritius Kestrels originally were found in the tropical forests of the Black River Gorges but, with rapid habitat depletion, they have been introduced to and have adapted to the rocky forests and adjacent scrubby areas of the Bambous Mountains and on Moka Mountain. (Collar, 1994) Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest . Physical Description - Mass 200 to 250 g; avg. 225 g (7. More

Mauritius kestrel ate a newly hatched offspring of a recently reintroduced pair of Mauritius pink pigeons (Columba mayeri), the world's rarest pigeon. The kestrel was captured and removed to the highland forest of Macchabee on Mauritius, the habitat of Phelsuma guimbeaui rosagularis. More

The Mauritius Kestrel had been once the rarest bird of prey in the world. During the year 1970 the whole population of Kestrels had been lessened to only 4 specimens. As a matter of fact, the Mauritius Kestrel became one of the most endangered species of birds in the world. Fortunately, concerned authorities had become aware about the fact. So, programmes to capture, breed and then release the Mauritius Kestrel may have eventually saved it from extinction. More

heartland of the Mauritius Kestrel Falco punctatus, one of the world’s flagship conservation success stories. The South-Eastern Highway will pass through the Mauritius east coast mountains Important Bird Area (IBA), cutting a swathe through some of the last remaining good quality forest in this part of Mauritius. The kestrel was once the world’s rarest bird. More

The Mauritius Kestrel (Falco punctatus), is a bird of prey from the family Falconidae endemic to Mauritius. It is the most distinct of the Indian Ocean kestrels. It colonized its island home to evolve into a distinct species probably during the Late Pliocene. It is the most distant living species among the western Indian Ocean kestrels. It can reach a size between 10 and 12 inches. The weight is up to 9 ounces. The males are slightly smaller than the females. More

Mauritius Kestrel is not a big bird, I’d say about the size of a Blue Jay, but they have this particular way of glaring over that small and deadly curved beak. It’s very unsettling when they apply that gaze in your direction. I slowly backed away, but he apparently decided he’d had enough of this giant nest-raiding mammal and flew directly at my face. More

Mauritius Kestrels, one located in a traditional location and the other in a new nest cavity at the edge of agricultural fields and other non-native vegetation. Kestrel home ranges were determined by radio tracking. Habitat types were identified using overstory canopies only. Native vegetation composed 12-41% of kestrel home range area, with exotic woodland, agricultural land, and scrub composing 15-40%. Kestrels were observed taking prey from non-native habitats, and both pairs fledged young. More