Banded Kestrel Falco zoniventris Scientific name definitions

25–29 cm; c. 180–240 g; wingspan 60–68 cm (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Relatively large-headed , with longish tail and medium-short wings (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Underparts white, streaked with brown on the throat and upper breast  , and barred with broad grey bands below  ; all grey above, becoming slightly bluer over lower back, rump and inner wings (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Female slightly darker and marginally larger (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) than male. Eye pale yellow. Appears accipiter like in flight and at rest, but heavy bill and large head distinctive. Other resident kestrel on island, F. newtoni is smaller, slimmer and has virtually all-brown upperparts (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Plain underparts and dark eye distinguish migrant F. concolor. Juvenile similar to female, but browner upperparts with rufous fringes, browner streaks and bars below, and more or less rufous bars on tail-sides (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Possibly, neither sex attains full adult plumage until third year; an immature female being brown overall, with reduced facial skin that was not bright yellow, with caramel-coloured irides (2 Thorstrom, R. (1999). A description of nests, diet and behaviour of the Banded Kestrel. Ostrich. 70(2): 149–151. Close ).

Madagascar.

Favours forest edge and woodland up to 2000 m, including secondary forest, clearings, sisal (3 Goodman, S. M., M. Pidgeon, A. F. A. Hawkins, and T. S. Schulenberg (1997). The birds of southeastern Madagascar. Fieldiana: Zoology (New Series) 87. Close ), coffee and vanilla plantations (4 Evans, M. I., J. W. Duckworth, A. F. A. Hawkins, R. J. Safford, B. C. Sheldon, and R. J. Wilkinson (1992) Key bird species of Marojejy Strict Nature Reserve, Madagascar. Bird Conservation International 2: 201–220. Close ), and even dry woodland in S and SW Madagascar. Nonetheless, degraded habitats perhaps only utilized when in close proximity to better-quality forested areas (4 Evans, M. I., J. W. Duckworth, A. F. A. Hawkins, R. J. Safford, B. C. Sheldon, and R. J. Wilkinson (1992) Key bird species of Marojejy Strict Nature Reserve, Madagascar. Bird Conservation International 2: 201–220. Close ).

No movements recorded within its limited island habitat.

Few data, but predominantly takes small reptiles (including Furcifer and Calumma (5 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) chameleons, Oplurus and Uroplatis (2 Thorstrom, R. (1999). A description of nests, diet and behaviour of the Banded Kestrel. Ostrich. 70(2): 149–151. Close ) lizards and Phelsuma geckos) and large insects (Orthoptera, flying ants, beetles, termites, mantises) (5 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); once a snake (5 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); by biomass, prey calculated to be overwhelmingly lizards (95%, especially chameleons, 86%) (5 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). At one nest, 30 prey items consisted of six (20%) reptiles, six (20%) unidentified vertebrates and 18 (60%) unidentified items (2 Thorstrom, R. (1999). A description of nests, diet and behaviour of the Banded Kestrel. Ostrich. 70(2): 149–151. Close ). Still-hunts, usually from high, exposed perch , flying fast, sometimes straight down, to seize prey from ground, trunk, or foliage within radius of 200 m, before returning to same initial perch (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Apparent feeding association with Sickle-billed Vanga (Falculea paliata) recently noted, with two different birds observed following flocks of the vanga, head-bobbing continuously in the direction of the group, and regularly catching small invertebrates seemingly disturbed by the passage of the vangas; association perhaps strongest early and late in the day (6 Tingay, R.E. and Gilbert, M. (2000). Behaviour of Banded Kestrel Falco zoniventris in western Madagascar: a possible foraging association with Sickle-billed Vanga Falculea palliata. Bull. Afr. Bird Club 7(2): 111–113. Close ). Takes some airborne prey (3 Goodman, S. M., M. Pidgeon, A. F. A. Hawkins, and T. S. Schulenberg (1997). The birds of southeastern Madagascar. Fieldiana: Zoology (New Series) 87. Close ), apparently including insects taken directly in the bill, although the latter observations require confirmation (6 Tingay, R.E. and Gilbert, M. (2000). Behaviour of Banded Kestrel Falco zoniventris in western Madagascar: a possible foraging association with Sickle-billed Vanga Falculea palliata. Bull. Afr. Bird Club 7(2): 111–113. Close ). Birds also apparently taken, at least occasionally, including Sakalava Weaver (Ploceus sakalava) (3 Goodman, S. M., M. Pidgeon, A. F. A. Hawkins, and T. S. Schulenberg (1997). The birds of southeastern Madagascar. Fieldiana: Zoology (New Series) 87. Close ).

Reportedly rather quiet, but occasionally utters shrill chatter, much like that of other kestrels (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); during an apparent territorial dispute between two adults, calls  similar to both Falco newtoni and Vasa Parrot (Coracopsis nigra) were heard (6 Tingay, R.E. and Gilbert, M. (2000). Behaviour of Banded Kestrel Falco zoniventris in western Madagascar: a possible foraging association with Sickle-billed Vanga Falculea palliata. Bull. Afr. Bird Club 7(2): 111–113. Close ). Also a “sonar-type” call heard close to dusk, likened to an echolocation sound (6 Tingay, R.E. and Gilbert, M. (2000). Behaviour of Banded Kestrel Falco zoniventris in western Madagascar: a possible foraging association with Sickle-billed Vanga Falculea palliata. Bull. Afr. Bird Club 7(2): 111–113. Close ).

Season recorded as Sept–Dec, and perhaps later (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Recorded nesting in tree cavities, scrapes among epiphytes (e.g. Phymatodes scolopendria, Neprolepis bisserata and Asplenuim nidus) (2 Thorstrom, R. (1999). A description of nests, diet and behaviour of the Banded Kestrel. Ostrich. 70(2): 149–151. Close ) on tall forest trees, e.g. Afzelia bijuga (Caesalpinioideae) and Canarium madagascariense (Burseraceae) (2 Thorstrom, R. (1999). A description of nests, diet and behaviour of the Banded Kestrel. Ostrich. 70(2): 149–151. Close ), or uses old nests of Sickle-billed Vanga (Falculea paliata); no material is added (1 Ferguson-Lees, J., and D. A. Christie (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Suspected also of using abandoned Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) nests, and observed visiting a Corvus-like nest in crown of Adansonia tree in SW Madagascar (6 Tingay, R.E. and Gilbert, M. (2000). Behaviour of Banded Kestrel Falco zoniventris in western Madagascar: a possible foraging association with Sickle-billed Vanga Falculea palliata. Bull. Afr. Bird Club 7(2): 111–113. Close ). Epiphytes rare in dry deciduous forests of W Madagascar, thus probably reliant on other situations for nesting in this region (6 Tingay, R.E. and Gilbert, M. (2000). Behaviour of Banded Kestrel Falco zoniventris in western Madagascar: a possible foraging association with Sickle-billed Vanga Falculea palliata. Bull. Afr. Bird Club 7(2): 111–113. Close ). Dimensions of one nest  were 15 × 10 cm (2 Thorstrom, R. (1999). A description of nests, diet and behaviour of the Banded Kestrel. Ostrich. 70(2): 149–151. Close ), but another 61 cm × 51 cm × 68 cm (5 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Two clutches of three off-white to pale yellowish eggs spotted pale to medium brown (2 Thorstrom, R. (1999). A description of nests, diet and behaviour of the Banded Kestrel. Ostrich. 70(2): 149–151. Close ), size 38·3–42·8 mm × 31·1–33·7 mm, 25–25·5 g (2 Thorstrom, R. (1999). A description of nests, diet and behaviour of the Banded Kestrel. Ostrich. 70(2): 149–151. Close ); incubation, mainly by female, 28–30 days (5 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ); chick has off-white down, pale grey facial skin and large dark brown-black eyes (2 Thorstrom, R. (1999). A description of nests, diet and behaviour of the Banded Kestrel. Ostrich. 70(2): 149–151. Close ); fledge at 26–30 days and disperse at 56 days (5 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Courtship feeding observed at nest-sites. Success on Masaola Peninsula, NE Madagascar, 2·3 young/pair, based on three nesting attempts with ten eggs, of which seven eggs hatched and all seven young fledged (5 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Apparently capable of breeding prior to full adulthood (2 Thorstrom, R. (1999). A description of nests, diet and behaviour of the Banded Kestrel. Ostrich. 70(2): 149–151. Close ).

Not globally threatened; formerly considered Near Threatened but now Least Concern. CITES II. Locally common but habitat limited and declining through deforestation. Not more than 1000 pairs predicted as total population, but able to exist in secondary habitats in some areas. Known from several protected areas, including Réserve Naturelle Intégrale d’Andohahela and Réserve Privée de Berenty (3 Goodman, S. M., M. Pidgeon, A. F. A. Hawkins, and T. S. Schulenberg (1997). The birds of southeastern Madagascar. Fieldiana: Zoology (New Series) 87. Close ); high densities of this have been reported at margins of Marojejy National Park (5 Safford, R. J., and A. F. A. Hawkins, Editors (2013). The Birds of Africa. Volume 8. The Malagasy Region. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Fairly common in W and S, rare in N and E, and absent from deforested central highlands. Not known to be affected by pesticide use.