The rock kestrel (''Falco rupicolus'') is a
bird of prey
Birds of prey or predatory birds, also known as raptors, are hypercarnivorous bird species that actively hunt and feed on other vertebrates (mainly mammals, reptiles and other smaller birds). In addition to speed and strength, these predators h ...
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
belonging to the
kestrel
The term kestrel (from french: crécerelle, derivative from , i.e. ratchet) is the common name given to several species of predatory birds from the falcon genus ''Falco''. Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behaviour ...
group of the
falcon
Falcons () are birds of prey in the genus ''Falco'', which includes about 40 species. Falcons are widely distributed on all continents of the world except Antarctica, though closely related raptors did occur there in the Eocene.
Adult falcons ...
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Falconidae
The falcons and caracaras are around 60 species of diurnal birds of prey that make up the family Falconidae (representing all extant species in the order Falconiformes). The family is divided into three subfamilies, Herpetotherinae, which inclu ...
. It was previously considered a
subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
of the
common kestrel
The common kestrel (''Falco tinnunculus'') 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 the United Kingdom, where no ...
(''Falco tinnunculus'').
This species occurs in
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
, from northwestern
Angola
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, coordina ...
and southern
Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...
to southern
Tanzania
Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands and ...
, and south to
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
.
Description
A slender, medium-sized kestrel, between 30 and 33 centimeters tall.
Adult male kestrels weigh between 183g and 254g, while females weigh between 190g and 280g.
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.
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.
The kestrel is usually associated with arid areas,
but may also be found in open and/or semi-arid areas.
Behavior
Diet, feeding and call
Rock kestrels feed on a wide variety of organisms.
They eat primarily invertebrates, but have been known to consume rodents, reptiles and birds.
Two primary forms of hunting are employed: hover hunting and perch hunting.
Hover hunting describes the method whereby the kestrel remains stationary in the air with minimal wing flapping by utilizing updrafts.
Hover hunting generally happens at medium to high windspeeds.
It is usually small prey (such as insects) which are caught via this method, and are subsequently eaten during flight.
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.
Rock kestrels have been observed following baboons through grasslands and catching the insect species flushed out.
There are also reports of rock kestrels robbing nests for young birds and eating termites on the floor.
Their call is a hars
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.
They have also been observed utilizing buildings, but this appears to be unusual.
Clutch sizes vary between 1 and 6 eggs.
The female incubates the eggs full-time while the male sources food.
After 26 to 32 days the chicks hatch.
Chicks will remain in the nest for a further 31 to 39 days post hatching.
Thereafter they leave the nest, but often remain in the vicinity for several weeks.
Breeding density varies across habitats however a study in Namibia noted values of between 19.1 and 28.9 pairs per 100 square kilometers.
Status and conservation
The rock kestrel is common in many protected areas, and as a result is not threatened.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3006153
Falco (genus)
Birds described in 1800