Mauritius Kestrel

Facts

IUCN VULNERABLE (VU)

Facts about this animal

The Mauritius Kestrel is a small falcon with a reddish brown crown and nape, streaked with black. The forehead, cheek, chin, and throat are much paler and lightly streaked with black. The upperpart and the wings are reddish brown with crescentic markings on wings and mantle. The breast, abdomen and under tail coverts are whitish with large distinct black spots. The legs and feet are yellow and the iris is dark brown. The sexes are similar in appearance, although the male is noticeably smaller than the female.

Did you know?
that geckos form the largest part of the Mauritius kestrel's diet? But of course the kestrels also eat small birds, small mammals and insects.

Factsheet
Class	AVES
Order	FALCONIFORMES
Suborder	FALCONES
Family	FALCONIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Falco punctatus
Name (English)	Mauritius Kestrel
Name (French)	Crécerelle de Maurice
Name (German)	Mauritiusfalke
Name (Spanish)	Cernícalo de la Mauricio
CITES Status	Appendix I
CMS Status	Not listed

Photo Copyright by
Mike Jordan

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Mauritius
Habitat	Primary habitat was native, evergreen, subtropical forests, but captive-bred birds have shown greater tolerance for degraded and open areas
Wild population	800-1,000 (2005) (Red List IUCN 2011)
Zoo population	4 reported to ISIS (2005)

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

Untrained birds travel better in completely dark boxes, with a carpeted floor and roof, with an upwards sliding door at one end and no perch. As a general rule, trained birds are easier to manage in boxes with a carpeted perch at the right height to give plenty of head and tail room, and with a hinged side opening door.

For air transport, Container Note 20 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

Find this animal on ZooLex

Photo Copyright by
Mike Jordan

Why do zoos keep this animal

The Mauritius Kestrel was once regarded as the world's rarest bird with only four individuals known to survive. An ex situ conservation breeding and rearing operation was initiated in 1979. By the end of 1987 more than 30 kestrels had been reared in human care, and birds could be released to the wild. As a result of such releases and intensive management, the wild population grew to 650-800 kestrels in the year 2000, more than at any time in the 20th century.

How this animal should be kept

Separate enclosures are required for each potential pair. For a pair of kestrels an aviary of at least 6-8 m², 2.5 m high, is required. As raptors are more settled when given the elevation to get above the watching public, exhibit aviaries should rather be higher than 2.5 m. At least one side, and preferably two sides of the aviary should be secluded or of a solid material. This allows for keepers to approach for management purposes without birds seeing them. Aviary access and the ability to clean enclosures with the minimum of disturbance are best from a darkened service passage. Also the public should be kept at least 1 m away from the aviary by an additional fence.

Enclosures should be designed to give more than adequate shelter for each individual bird, and for young on nest sites.

Perches of differing diameters will provide valuable gripping exercise for the birds and irregular shapes mean less chance of pressure sores or bumble foot. It is advisable to keep an eye on perches and change them regularly. Perches sited away from walls make for better visibility, cleaner enclosures and birds in better feather condition. Good perches with plenty of branches should be placed close to nest areas so that young birds have a place to hop to once they become active.

Nest boxes, preferably two per pair, should be placed in the back of the aviary, size is 30x50 cm x 30 cm high.