Falco zoniventris

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Banded Kestrel
Falco zoniventris


Status: Near Threatened

Population Trend: Stable.

Other Names: Barred Kestrel, Madagascar Banded Kestrel, Madagascar Barred Kestrel.

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Distribution: Afrotropical. Endemic to MADAGASCAR. more....

Subspecies: Monotypic.

Taxonomy: Formerly placed in the genus Hypotriorchis. Sometimes placed in the subgenus Dissodectes with F. ardosiaceus and F. dickinsoni, but Wink and Sauer-Gürth (2004) found that it does not cluster with the latter species, based on nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene.

Movements: Non-migratory (Bildstein and Zalles 2005), but may show seasonal movements away from breeding territories in the wetter eastern region during the rainy season (Thorstrom et al. 2003).

Habitat and Habits: Occurs in rainforest edges, forest clearings, secondary forest, and dry woodland up to 2,000 m (Kemp and Kemp 1998, Thorstrom and Rene de Roland 2000), particulrly favoring the spiny forest of the south. Often seen at the top of a dead stub above the forest, where it perches quietly for long periods (Rand 1936, Goodman et al. 1997), but Morris and Hawkins (1998) stated that it usually perches in the lower branches of a tree. Regarded as secretive and difficult to detect by Thorstrom et al. (2003). Somewhat tame. more....

Food and Feeding Behavior: Feeds mainly on small birds, insects, and lizards (mostly chameleons), which it snatches in fast, swerving flight from the ground, tree trunks, and the lower branches of trees (Kemp and Kemp 1998, Thorstrom et al. 2003). In southeastern Madagascar, individuals would often be noted perched in tall baobabs or other trees with good vantage points, from which they would sally out and capture prey in the air (Goodman et al. 1997). more....

Breeding: Nests in tree cavities at the base of epiphytes, in the stamped-out center of an epiphyte, or in the old nests of other species, e.g, Sickle-billed Vanga (Falculea palliata). Clutch size is three yellowish eggs, averaging 42.8 x 33.7 mm. Nesting has been documented from September-December (Langrand 1990). Three nests were discovered on the Masoala Peninsula from 1995-1997 (Thorstrom and Rene de Roland 2000).

Conservation: Generally uncommon, but may be more common than previously thought, due to its secretive nature. However, it is a species that is negatively affected by deforestation, and Thorstrom et al. (2003) regarded it as Near Threatened. Categorized globally as a species of "Least Concern" by BirdLife International (2007).

Important References:
Cade, T.J. 1982. Falcons of the world. Cornell University Press, Ithaca,
  NY.
Colebrook-Robjent, J.F.R. 1973. The breeding of the Madagascar Banded
  Kestrel. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 93:108-111.
Collar, N.J., and S.N. Stuart. 1985. Threatened birds of Africa and
  related islands: the ICBP/IUCN Red Data Book. Part I. 3rd ed. International
  Council for Bird Preservation and International Union for Conservation of
  Nature and Natural Resources, Cambridge, UK.
Ferguson-Lees, J., and D.A. Christie. 2001. Raptors of the world. Houghton
  Mifflin, Boston, MA.
Kemp, A.C. 1994. Banded Kestrel. Pp. 262-263 in del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott,
  and J. Sargatal (eds). Handbook of birds of the world. Vol. 2. New World
  vultures to guineafowl. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.
Langrand, O. 1990. Guide to the birds of Madagascar. Yale University
  Press, New Haven, CT.
Morris, P., and F. Hawkins. 1998. Birds of Madagascar: a photographic
  guide. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT.
Rene de Roland, L.-A., J. Rabearivony, and R. Thorstrom. 2005. Breeding
  biology and diet of Banded Kestrels Falco zoniventris on Masoala Peninsula,
  Madagascar. Ostrich 76:2-36.
Robenarimangason, H. 1999. [Contribution to the biological, ecological and
  ethological study of the family Falconidae, Madasgascar Kestrel, Falco
  newtoni, and Banded Kestrel, Falco zoniventris, in the western part of
  the Masoala Peninsula.] M.Sc. (equivalent), Universite d'Antananarivo,
  Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Thorstrom, R. 1999. A description of nests, diet, and behaviour of the
  Banded Kestrel. Ostrich 70:149-151.
Thorstrom, R., and L.-A. René de Roland. 2000. Status and conservation of
  raptors on the Masoala Peninsula, Madagascar. Pp. 35-41 in R.D. Chancellor
  and B.-U. Meyburg (eds.), Raptors at risk. World Working Group on Birds of
  Prey, Berlin and Hancock House, Blaine, WA.
Thorstrom, R., L.-A. Rene de Roland, and R.T. Watson. 2003. Falconiformes
  and Strigiformes: ecology and status of raptors. Pp. 1080-1085 in S.M.
  Goodman, and J.P. Benstead (eds.), The natural history of Madagascar.
  University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL.
more....

Sites of Interest:

VIREO
Banded Kestrel photos.
Kestreling
Contains original information and nice photos.

Researchers:
Rene de Roland, Lily-Arison
Thorstrom, Russell
Tingay, Ruth

Last modified: 9/13/2009

Recommended Citation: Global Raptor Information Network. 2010. Species account: Banded Kestrel Falco zoniventris. Downloaded from http://www.globalraptors.org on 9 Feb. 2010