Rock Kestrel
The Rock Kestrel - Falco rupicolus - has
recently been split from the Common
Kestrel – Falco tinnunculus. The Rock Kestrel occurs from Angola, southern DRC and Tanzania south to southern Africa, where it is
common in Namibia, South Africa, Botswana,
Swaziland, Lesotho and central Mozambique. It occupies a wide
variety of habitats, generally favouring open semi-arid and arid environments,
such as grassland, Karoo and desert as well as
urban centres.
Description
A small raptor, which is mainly light chestnut brown with
blackish spots on the upperside and buff with narrow blackish streaks on the
underside. The male having fewer black spots and streaks, as well as a grey
head and tail. The tail is brown with black bars in females, and has a black
tip with a narrow white rim in both sexes. The cere, feet and a narrow ring
around the eye are yellow, the bill and eye are dark. Juveniles look like adult
females. It differs markedly from the other subspecies of the Falco tinnunculus complex. In
particular, the females have what in other subspecies are typically male
characteristics such as a grey head and tail, and spotted rather than barred
upperparts. The Rock Kestrel has less heavily marked, brighter chestnut
upperparts and its underparts are also a bright chestnut that contrasts with
the nearly unmarked white underwings. Females tend to have more black bands in
the central tail feathers than males.71[
Call
A high pitched "whickering" ki-ki-ki-ki near the
nest.
Food
It mainly eats small birds, lizards, mammals and arthropods,
either hunting from a high perch or by hovering so that it can spot prey.
Breeding
In the breeding season it usually stays in areas around
cliffs, which it uses for breeding and roosting. The breeding season is
September to January. A solitary nester, the nest is typically a simple scrape
in a hole or crack, alternatively nesting on a ledge of a cliff. The female lays
between 1 to 6 eggs, which are mainly incubated by the female for between 26 to
32 days. The chicks are brooded and protected by the female while the male
provides food for the whole family. The young leave the nest at between 30 to 36
days, becoming fully independent up to about 42 days later.
Conservation Status –Least Concern
A common resident in South Africa. Not threatened.
Birdwatching
Ask Aves Birding
Tours/Safaris/Adventures to create a tour for you or book on one of the
following Aves Birding
Tour/Safaris/Adventures see these beautiful Kestrels: -
Aves Arid Birding Tour/Safari/Adventure.
Aves Eastern Cape
Birding Tour / Safari
/Adventure.
Aves
Highlands / Tembe Birding
Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves North East Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves North West
Birding Tour / Safari / Adventure.
Aves Western Cape
Birding Tour / Safari /
Adventure.