Seychelles Kestrel Falco araeus Scientific name definitions

15–24 cm (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); male averages 73 g, female 88 g (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); wingspan 44–47 cm (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). A very small, slim-bodied falcon (the smallest Falco) (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) with a very dark grey head and rump, obscure moustachials, unmarked pinkish-buff underparts  , short pointed wings (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) and a relatively long, black-barred grey tail  with broad subterminal band and whitish tip (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). The only resident falcon in Seychelles, making the species virtually unmistakable (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Female only marginally paler than male , but sexual dimorphism much less marked than in many kestrels (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); averages just 3% larger than male, but up to 28% heavier (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Bare parts: eyes brown, and cere, orbital ring and legs  yellow (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Juvenile has chestnut crown, paler facial skin, heavier dark upperparts markings (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), and is spotted and streaked black on underparts.

Islands of Seychelles, in W Indian Ocean. On Mahé and its satellites (St Anne, Cerf, Longue and probably Thérèse), Silhouette I and North I; reintroduced to Praslin. Non-breeding visitor to La Digue and Félicité (3 BirdLife International (2013). IUCN Red List for birds. URL: http://www.birdlife.org (download Aug 2013). Close ); and historically on Curieuse, Marianne and possibly Sisters.

Dense secondary forest with crags, the degraded original habitat on these hilly granitic islands; extends now to cultivated and open urban areas, as well as coconut (Cocos nucifera) plantations, villages and even urban gardens; recorded from sea-level to 900 m (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

No movement expected within the restricted island habitats, except for some dispersion between islands, e.g. recorded with increasing frequency on La Digue since 1970s and occasionally on Félicité (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Mainly lizards  , especially Mabuya skinks and Phelsuma geckos, but the diet includes insects, small birds, mice, rats, frogs and chameleons (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Hunts from open  or concealed (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) perches, snatching prey from trunks, branches, foliage or the ground. Not known to hover, but sometimes circles over territory (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

In breeding season considered to be relatively vocal, uttering thin, loud and fast "ki-ki-ki..." for long periods in flight (4 Cresswell, W., Irwin, M., Jensen, M.K., Mee, A., Mellanby, R., McKean, M. and Milne, L. (1997). Population estimates and distribution changes of landbirds on Silhouette Island, Seychelles. Ostrich. 68(2–4): 50–57. Close ), similar to the calls of other kestrels; no other information (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

Laying Aug–Oct (>80% of pairs initiate clutches between 1 Sept and 15 Oct) (5 Watson, J. (1992). Nesting ecology of the Seychelles Kestrel Falco araea on Mahé, Seychelles. Ibis. 134(3): 259-267. Close ), with season extending to Jan (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Nests in cavities, mainly (69%) in rock faces more than 200 m above sea-level; or on old Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) nests at the base of coconut palm fronds at lower elevations; or simple scrape (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) on ledges on buildings or in holes in trees. Clutch 2–3 (more usually three) (5 Watson, J. (1992). Nesting ecology of the Seychelles Kestrel Falco araea on Mahé, Seychelles. Ibis. 134(3): 259-267. Close ) eggs; incubation 28–31 days; fledging 35–42 days; post-fledging dependence 9–24 weeks. Brood size apparently higher at upland (>200 m) localities, as opposed to lowland sites (5 Watson, J. (1992). Nesting ecology of the Seychelles Kestrel Falco araea on Mahé, Seychelles. Ibis. 134(3): 259-267. Close ). Sometimes double-brooded (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Most successful on cliffs (76%), less so on trees and buildings (68–35%) and least in palms (19%). Breeding success was notably depressed in 1977, in which year numbers of green geckos were noticeably lower (5 Watson, J. (1992). Nesting ecology of the Seychelles Kestrel Falco araea on Mahé, Seychelles. Ibis. 134(3): 259-267. Close ). Some competition for sites with the introduced Barn Owl (Tyto alba) and Common Myna, which, with the black rat (Rattus rattus), are also important nest predators; also with native Green-backed Heron (Butorides striata) (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ).

VULNERABLE. CITES I. Previously considered not globally threatened. Range contracted from seven islands to two between 1880s and 1970s (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Total population estimated at 420 pairs: maximum of 370 on Mahé in 1976, probably at carrying capacity; c. 50 (minimum of 36) pairs on Silhouette in 1970s (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ), but just 15–20 pairs in 1996 (4 Cresswell, W., Irwin, M., Jensen, M.K., Mee, A., Mellanby, R., McKean, M. and Milne, L. (1997). Population estimates and distribution changes of landbirds on Silhouette Island, Seychelles. Ostrich. 68(2–4): 50–57. Close ); and at least ten re-established on Praslin by 1981 (where reintroduced in 1977) but these numbers had halved by 1990s due to fires and housing developments (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Mean territory size of 40 ha, with one study area holding 33 pairs in 1270 ha and another 21 pairs in 825 ha in 1976 (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Well studied, showing high hatching success (90%); no special conservation action implemented other than translocation to Praslin. Has adapted well to lowlands altered by human occupation, nesting on coconut palms and buildings, although with lower success than on cliffs in natural areas. Not known to be affected by pesticide use.