Malagasy Kestrel (Falco newtoni)
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Malagasy Kestrel

Falco newtoni (Gurney, JH Sr, 1863)

123 gWeight

The Malagasy kestrel (Falco newtoni), 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.

Busiest months: October–November · Most records: Madagascar, Seychelles

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Malagasy Kestrel has been recorded at 23 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 2 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Ifaty – spiny forest reservesMadagascar677 records
  2. Parc de TsarasaotraMadagascar550 records
  3. Berenty ReserveMadagascar419 records
More places
  1. Le Relais de la Reine/Le Jardin du RoyMadagascar324 records
  2. Ranomafana NPMadagascar285 records
  3. Zombitse-Vohibasia NPMadagascar171 records
  4. Andasibe-Mantadia NPMadagascar153 records
  5. PerinetMadagascar99 records
  6. Ranomafana NP – VariboloMadagascar66 records
  7. V.O.I. M.M.AMadagascar64 records

Countries and regions with the most records

MadagascarSeychelles

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The Malagasy kestrel (Falco newtoni), 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.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Malagasy Kestrel?

The Malagasy Kestrel weighs around 123 g.

Where does the Malagasy Kestrel live?

Its breeding range: Africa: Madagascar and Aldabra (southwestern Seychelles). It is most often recorded in Madagascar and Seychelles.

When is the best time to see the Malagasy Kestrel?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in October and November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Malagasy Kestrel endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Malagasy Kestrel as Least Concern.

What does the Malagasy Kestrel eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Malagasy Kestrel in?

It belongs to the family Caracaras, Falcons (Falconidae), order Falconiformes.

At a glance

Weight
123 g
Habitat
Grassland
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
189 mm
Tail
127 mm
Bill
18 mm
Tarsus
36 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Africa: Madagascar and Aldabra (southwestern Seychelles)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Caracaras, Falcons Falconidae
Genus
Falco

Other birds in the genus Falco

Lesser KestrelLesser KestrelFalco naumanniCommon KestrelCommon KestrelFalco tinnunculusRock KestrelRock KestrelFalco rupicolusMauritius KestrelMauritius KestrelFalco punctatusSeychelles KestrelSeychelles KestrelFalco araeusSpotted KestrelSpotted KestrelFalco moluccensisNankeen KestrelNankeen KestrelFalco cenchroidesAmerican KestrelAmerican KestrelFalco sparveriusGreater KestrelGreater KestrelFalco rupicoloidesFox KestrelFox KestrelFalco alopexGrey KestrelGrey KestrelFalco ardosiaceusDickinson's KestrelDickinson's KestrelFalco dickinsoni
Malagasy Kestrel

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