Native only to Mauritius, the Mauritius kestrel was historically found throughout the island. By the early 1970s, its range was reduced to the mountainous Black River Gorges in southwestern Mauritius. Kestrels occupy territories of about three square kilometres in both upland and lowland native forest.
Mauritius Kestrel (Falco punctatus)
Less colourful than its North American cousin, this kestrel is a small falcon adapted to living in Mauritian forests. It has short rounded wings and a relatively long tail and legs. It measures 15–18 centimetres from beak to tail and weighs 135–165 grams.
About 90 per cent of a kestrel’s diet consists of Phelsuma geckos, supplemented by other lizards, insects and shrews. Typically, the kestrel breeds once each year, between September and November. It will lay a second clutch of eggs, usually within 14 days, if the first clutch is lost. Clutches are two to four eggs, primarily incubated by the female.
Habitat
Range
Status
Threats
The original threats of DDT-based pesticides and habitat degradation are now largely gone. However, the limited amount of original habitat that remains in protected parks and reserves means the population will probably never grow large. Although the species is adapting to new habitats, the small population size leaves the kestrel vulnerable to natural disasters such as cyclones.