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| − | [[Image:1-S64A6331-2.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Photo by {{user|max1|max1}}<br />Western Cape, [[South Africa]], October 2017]] | + | [[Image:1-S64A6331-2.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Immature female<br />Photo © by {{user|max1|max1}}<br />West Coast National Park, Western Cape, [[South Africa]], 31 October 2017]] |
;[[:Category:Falco|Falco]] rupicolus | ;[[:Category:Falco|Falco]] rupicolus | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | 27–35 cm (10½-13¾ in) | + | [[Image:Rock Kestrel 3 .jpg|thumb|350px|right|Adult female in flight<br />Photo © by {{user|Binty|Binty}}<br />Cape Point, [[South Africa]], 29 June2014]] |
| − | * | + | 27–35 cm (10½-13¾ in) - Female is larger than male. |
| − | * | + | *Black spotting on rufous upperparts. |
| + | *Light underwing, lightly barred. | ||
| + | *Gray head and tail | ||
| + | *'''Male''' has broad black subterminal tail-band tipped with white. | ||
| + | *'''Female''' is browner with narrow black tail bars in addition to broad black subterminal band and more streaking on crown. | ||
| + | *'''Juvenile''' has head brownish, more heavily streaked with buff tips to flight feathers. | ||
| + | ====Similar Species==== | ||
| + | Male [[Lesser Kestrel]] has unspotted back, gray greater coverts and unmarked silvery-white underwings. [[Greater Kestrel]] is larger with brown head, barred, not spotted upperparts and mostly white underwings. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | |||
[[Africa]]: from northern [[Angola]] to [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], southern [[Tanzania]] and [[South Africa]]. | [[Africa]]: from northern [[Angola]] to [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], southern [[Tanzania]] and [[South Africa]]. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species.<br /> | + | This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>.<br /> |
| − | + | This species was formerly considered a subspecies of the [[Common Kestrel]] from which it differs in its genetic distinctiveness and reduced sexual dimorphism. | |
| + | |||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| − | + | Wide variety of habitats including fynbos, desert and cliffs; usually close to rocky outcrops. | |
| + | [[Image:800rk1aP8197851.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Adult male<br />Photo © by {{user|CollinBax|CollinBax}}<br />Durbanville, Cape Town, [[South Africa]], 19 August 2009]] | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | ====Actions==== | ||
| + | Forages by hovering over open country, pouncing on prey on the ground. Also hunts from a perch. | ||
====Diet==== | ====Diet==== | ||
| − | + | Mostly of small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. | |
| + | ====Breeding==== | ||
| + | Monogamous. Nest is usually a scrape on cliff ledge but sometimes uses crow's nests or man-made structures where natural sites are unavailable. | ||
| + | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
| + | Metallic high-pitched ''kik-kik-kik''. Also ''kreee-kreee'' notes. | ||
| + | ====Movements==== | ||
| + | Generally sedentary with local movements. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#{{Ref-GillDonsker15V5.3}}#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#{{Ref-GillDonsker15V5.3}}#{{Ref-Hockeyetal05}}#Orta, J., Boesman, P. & Marks, J.S. (2018). Common Kestrel (''Falco tinnunculus''). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/53213 on 8 July 2018). |
| + | #{{Ref-SinclairHockyArlott05}} | ||
#BF Member observations | #BF Member observations | ||
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| − | {{ | + | <div style="margin:2px; padding:5px; border:1px solid #CCC; text-align: center; background-color: #FFFF99; clear:both"> |
| + | [[Image:Icon_camera_link.png]] [https://www.birdforum.net/search/?type=xfmg_media&q=%22Falco+rupicolus%22+|+%22Rock+Kestrel%22&o=date&c%5Bcategories%5D%5B0%5D=529&c%5Bchild_categories%5D=1 Search for photos of {{PAGENAME}} in the gallery] | ||
| + | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{GS-checked}}1 | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
<br /> | <br /> | ||
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Falco]] | [[Category:Birds]][[Category:Falco]] | ||
Latest revision as of 15:04, 26 August 2023
- Falco rupicolus
Identification
27–35 cm (10½-13¾ in) - Female is larger than male.
- Black spotting on rufous upperparts.
- Light underwing, lightly barred.
- Gray head and tail
- Male has broad black subterminal tail-band tipped with white.
- Female is browner with narrow black tail bars in addition to broad black subterminal band and more streaking on crown.
- Juvenile has head brownish, more heavily streaked with buff tips to flight feathers.
Similar Species
Male Lesser Kestrel has unspotted back, gray greater coverts and unmarked silvery-white underwings. Greater Kestrel is larger with brown head, barred, not spotted upperparts and mostly white underwings.
Distribution
Africa: from northern Angola to Democratic Republic of the Congo, southern Tanzania and South Africa.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
This species was formerly considered a subspecies of the Common Kestrel from which it differs in its genetic distinctiveness and reduced sexual dimorphism.
Habitat
Wide variety of habitats including fynbos, desert and cliffs; usually close to rocky outcrops.
Behaviour
Actions
Forages by hovering over open country, pouncing on prey on the ground. Also hunts from a perch.
Diet
Mostly of small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects.
Breeding
Monogamous. Nest is usually a scrape on cliff ledge but sometimes uses crow's nests or man-made structures where natural sites are unavailable.
Vocalisation
Metallic high-pitched kik-kik-kik. Also kreee-kreee notes.
Movements
Generally sedentary with local movements.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2015. IOC World Bird Names (version 5.3). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
- Hockey, PAR, WRJ Dean, and PG Ryan, eds. 2005. Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa. 7th ed. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 978-0620340533
- Orta, J., Boesman, P. & Marks, J.S. (2018). Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/53213 on 8 July 2018).
- Sinclair, I., Hockey, P.A.R., and Arlott, N. (2005). The Larger Illustrated Guide to Birds of Southern Africa. Struik, Cape Town. ISBN 978-1775840992
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Rock Kestrel. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 18 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Rock_Kestrel
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
