Rock kestrel

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Rock kestrel
Rock Kestrel (Falco rupicolus), Mountain Zebra NP, South Africa.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Genus: Falco
Species:
F. rupicolus
Binomial name
Falco rupicolus
Daudin, 1800
Synonyms

Falco tinnunculus rupicolus Daudin, 1800
Falco tinnunculus interstictus( lapsus )

Contents

The rock kestrel (Falco rupicolus) is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It was previously considered a subspecies of the common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). [1] [2]

This species occurs in Africa, from northwestern Angola and southern Democratic Republic of Congo to southern Tanzania, and south to South Africa. [3]

Description

A slender, medium-sized kestrel, between 30 and 33 centimeters tall. [3] [4] Adult male kestrels weigh between 183g and 254g, while females weigh between 190g and 280g. [3]

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs from Angola, south through the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as Tanzania, further south to South Africa, and in most of the places between. [3] Noticeable places of scarcity include north and north east Namibia, Botswana, south Mozambique and tropical Lowveld, while in Zimbabwe it is restricted to high-lying central and eastern regions. [3] The kestrel is usually associated with arid areas, [2] but may also be found in open and/or semi-arid areas. [3]

Behavior

Diet, feeding and call

Rock kestrels feed on a wide variety of organisms. [5] They eat primarily invertebrates, but have been known to consume rodents, reptiles and birds. [3] [5]

Two primary forms of hunting are employed: hover hunting and perch hunting. [6] Hover hunting describes the method whereby the kestrel remains stationary in the air with minimal wing flapping by utilizing updrafts. [7] Hover hunting generally happens at medium to high windspeeds. [7] It is usually small prey (such as insects) which are caught via this method, and are subsequently eaten during flight. [7] Perch hunting is when the kestrel utilizes either natural (for instance cliffs and trees) or artificial (for instance electricity pylons and telephone poles) perches to scan the surrounding area for prey. [7] Rock kestrels have been observed following baboons through grasslands and catching the insect species flushed out. [6] There are also reports of rock kestrels robbing nests for young birds and eating termites on the floor. [7]

Their call is a harsh chay-chay-chay, especially when scaring off intruders, unlike the common kestrel's kee-kee-kee.

Breeding

Rock kestrels usually nest in either old stick nests or on cliffs, where they may make a depression in the sand. [3] [8] They have also been observed utilizing buildings, but this appears to be unusual. [8] Clutch sizes vary between 1 and 6 eggs. [3] The female incubates the eggs full-time while the male sources food. [7] [8] After 26 to 32 days the chicks hatch. [3] [7] [8] Chicks will remain in the nest for a further 31 to 39 days post hatching. [3] [8] Thereafter they leave the nest, but often remain in the vicinity for several weeks. [8] Breeding density varies across habitats however a study in Namibia noted values of between 19.1 and 28.9 pairs per 100 square kilometers. [8]

Status and conservation

The rock kestrel is common in many protected areas, and as a result is not threatened. [3]

Related Research Articles

Common kestrel Species of bird

The common kestrel is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It is also known as the European kestrel, Eurasian kestrel, or Old World kestrel. In Britain, where no other kestrel species commonly occurs, it is generally just called "kestrel".

Merlin (bird)

The merlin is a small species of falcon from the Northern Hemisphere, with numerous subspecies throughout North America and Eurasia. A bird of prey once known colloquially as a pigeon hawk in North America, the merlin breeds in the northern Holarctic; some migrate to subtropical and northern tropical regions in winter. Males typically have wingspans of 53–58 centimetres (21–23 in), with females being slightly larger. They are swift fliers and skilled hunters who specialize in preying on small birds in the size range of sparrows to quail. The merlin has for centuries been well regarded as a falconry bird. In recent decades merlin populations in North America have been significantly increasing, with some merlins becoming so well adapted to city life that they forgo migration.

Black-shouldered kite small raptor found in open habitat throughout Australia

The black-shouldered kite, also known as the Australian black-shouldered kite, is a small raptor found in open habitat throughout Australia. It resembles similar species found in Africa, Eurasia and North America, including the black-winged kite, a species that has in the past also been called "black-shouldered kite". Measuring around 35 cm (14 in) in length with a wingspan of 80–100 cm (31–39 in), the adult black-shouldered kite has predominantly grey-white plumage and prominent black markings above its red eyes. It gains its name from the black patches on its wings. The primary call is a clear whistle, uttered in flight and while hovering. It can be confused with the related letter-winged kite in Australia, which is distinguished by the striking black markings under its wings.

Lesser kestrel

The lesser kestrel is a small falcon. This species breeds from the Mediterranean across Afghanistan and Central Asia, to China and Mongolia. It is a summer migrant, wintering in Africa and Pakistan and sometimes even to India and Iraq. It is rare north of its breeding range, and declining in its European range. The genus name derives from Late Latin falx, falcis, a sickle, referencing the claws of the bird, and the species name commemorates the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Naumann.

Red-footed falcon

The red-footed falcon, formerly the western red-footed falcon, is a bird of prey. It belongs to the family Falconidae, the falcons. This bird is found in eastern Europe and Asia although its numbers are dwindling rapidly due to habitat loss and hunting. It is migratory, wintering in Africa. It is a regular wanderer to western Europe, and in August 2004 a red-footed falcon was found in North America for the first time on the island of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

American kestrel North American falcon species

The American kestrel, also called a sparrow hawk is the smallest and most common falcon in North America. It has a roughly two-to-one range in size over subspecies and sex, varying in size from about the weight of a blue jay to a mourning dove. It also ranges to South America and is a well-established species that has evolved seventeen subspecies adapted to different environments and habitats throughout the Americas. It exhibits sexual dimorphism in size and plumage, although both sexes have a rufous back with noticeable barring. Its plumage is colorful and attractive, and juveniles are similar in plumage to adults.

Nankeen kestrel

The nankeen kestrel is a raptor native to Australia and New Guinea. It is one of the smallest falcons, and unlike many, does not rely on speed to catch its prey. Instead, it simply perches in an exposed position, but it also has a distinctive technique of hovering over crop and grasslands.

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.

Fox kestrel

The fox kestrel is a bird of prey belonging to the falcon family Falconidae. It is found in arid, open country in the northern part of Sub-Saharan Africa.

The name kestrel is given to several members of the falcon genus, Falco. Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behaviour which is to hover at a height of around 10–20 metres (35–65 ft) over open country and swoop down on prey, usually small mammals, lizards or large insects. Other falcons are more adapted to active hunting in flight. Kestrels are notable for usually having mostly brown in their plumage.

Taita falcon Species of bird

The Taita falcon is a small falcon found in central and eastern Africa. It was first described from the Taita Hills of Kenya from which it derives its name.

Amur falcon

The Amur falcon is a small raptor of the falcon family. It breeds in south-eastern Siberia and Northern China before migrating in large flocks across India and over the Arabian Sea to winter in Southern Africa

Black falcon Falcon species

The black falcon is a medium-large falcon that is endemic to Australia. It can be found in all mainland states and territories and yet is regarded as Australia's most under-studied falcon.

Australian hobby

The Australian hobby, also known as the little falcon, is one of six Australian members of the family Falconidae. This predominately diurnal bird of prey derives its name ‘longipennis’ from its long primary wing feathers. It occurs throughout Australia and other neighbouring countries with migrating individuals found on the islands of Indonesia and New Guinea.

Greater kestrel

The greater kestrel or white-eyed kestrel, is a bird of prey belonging to the falcon family Falconidae. It is one of the largest kestrels and is found in open country in southern and eastern Africa.

Grey kestrel

The grey kestrel is an African bird of prey belonging to the falcon family Falconidae. Its closest relatives are the banded kestrel and Dickinson's kestrel and the three are sometimes placed in the subgenus Dissodectes.

Dickinsons kestrel

Dickinson's kestrel is a bird of prey of southern and eastern Africa belonging to the falcon family Falconidae. It is named after John Dickinson, an English physician and missionary who collected the type specimen. It is also known as the white-rumped kestrel. Its closest relatives are the grey kestrel and banded kestrel and the three are sometimes placed in the subgenus Dissodectes.

Malagasy kestrel Species of bird

The Malagasy kestrel, 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. The race from Aldabra is also called Aldabra kestrel. Its closest living relative is the Seychelles kestrel; they were at one time considered conspecific. Their common ancestors appear to have diverged very recently, probably less than 1 million years ago during the Early or Middle Pleistocene. The Mauritius kestrel is more distantly related.(Groombridge et al. 2002)

Banded kestrel

The banded kestrel is a bird of prey belonging to the falcon family Falconidae. It is endemic to Madagascar and is also known as the Madagascar banded kestrel, barred kestrel or Madagascar barred kestrel. Its closest relatives are the grey kestrel and Dickinson's kestrel of mainland Africa and the three are sometimes placed in the subgenus Dissodectes.

Augur buzzard

The augur buzzard is a fairly large African bird of prey. The taxonomy on this species is not settled, with some taxonomists considering this species, the jackal buzzard, and the Archer's buzzard to be the same superspecies. Many taxonomists consider them all to be distinct, having different calls, different home ranges and variations in plumage. This is a species of mountains, and adjacent savannah and grassland. It is resident and non-migratory throughout its range. It is normally found from Ethiopia to southern Angola and central Namibia.

References

  1. "South African or Rock Kestrel (Falco rupicolus)". www.beautyofbirds.com. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
  2. 1 2 Groombridge, J.J. (2002). "A molecular phylogeny of African kestrels with reference to divergence across the Indian Ocean". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 25: 267–277. doi:10.1016/s1055-7903(02)00254-3. PMID   12414309.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Hockey, P.A.R.; Dean, W.R.J.; Ryan, P.G. (2005). Roberts - Birds of southern Africa. Trustees of the John Voelcker bird book fund. ISBN   0620340533.
  4. Barnard, P. (1986). "Windhovering patterns of three African raptors in montane conditions". Ardea. 74: 151–158.
  5. 1 2 van Zyl, A.J.; Jenkins, A.R.; Allan, D.G. (1994). "Evidence for seasonal movements by rock kestrels Falco tinnuculus and lanner falcons F. biarmicus in South Africa". Ostrich. 65: 111–121. doi:10.1080/00306525.1994.9639673.
  6. 1 2 King, A.J. & Cowlishaw, G. (2009). "Foraging opportunities drive interspecific associations between rock kestrels and desert baboons". Journal of Zoology. 277: 111–118. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2008.00504.x .
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 van Zyl, A.J. (1993). Aspects of the foraging and breeding ecology of the southern African kestrel. University of Cape Town.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mendelsohn, J.M. (1990). "Observation on the breeding of rock kestrels in Windhoek, Namibia". Gabar. 5: 35–40.