- Fox Kestrel
Taxobox
name = Fox Kestrel
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Chordata
classis =Aves
ordo =Falconiformes
familia =Falconidae
genus = "Falco"
species = "F. alopex"
binomial = "Falco alopex"
binomial_authority = (Heuglin, 1861)The Fox Kestrel ("Falco alopex") is a
bird of prey belonging to thefalcon familyFalconidae . It is found in arid, open country inAfrica .Description
It is a large, slender
kestrel with long, narrow wings and tail. It is 32-38 cm long with a wingspan of 76-88 cm and a weight of 250-300 grams. The female is 3% larger than the male. Theplumage is dark rufous above and below with black streaks. The tail is narrowly barred with black while theflight feather s of the wing are dark and unbarred. The underwings are pale, contrasting with the darker body. The eye is yellow-brown unlike the similarGreater Kestrel which has whitish eyes as well as paler plumage, barred flight feathers and grey on the tail.Juvenile Fox Kestrels have heavier streaking than the adults and clearer barring on the tail.
The species has a high, screeching call but is usually silent outside the breeding season.
Habitat and range
It breeds in the
savanna region south of theSahara fromMali eastwards as far asEthiopia and north-westKenya . It occasionally wanders west toSenegal , theGambia andGuinea and south to theDemocratic Republic of the Congo . Most birds are sedentary but there is some movement northward during thewet season and southward in thedry season . It is often found around cliffs and rocky hills. It occurs from near sea-level to 2200 metres, especially below 1000 metres. It has a large range of about 4 million km² but is usually uncommon. Its total population is probably less than 100,000 pairs.Behaviour
It rarely hovers, preferring to hunt from a perch in a tree or on a rock. It feeds on
insect s,lizard s and smallmammal s. It generally catches food on the ground but also hunts for flying insects escaping from grass fires.Little is known about its breeding habits. The
nest site is a hole or crevice in a cliff or on a ledge. No nesting material is used. The clutch is thought to consist of two or three eggs. The birds sometimes breed in loose colonies of up to 20 pairs.References
*aut|Ferguson-Lees, James & Christie, David A. (2001) "Raptors of the World", Christopher Helm, London.
*aut|Global Raptor Information Network (2007) " [http://www.globalraptors.org/grin/SpeciesResults.asp?specID=8223 Species account: Fox Kestrel Falco alopex.] " Downloaded from http://www.globalraptors.org on 2 Aug. 2007.
*aut|Sinclair, Ian & Ryan, Peter (2003) "Birds of Africa south of the Sahara", Struik, Cape Town.
*aut|Zimmerman, Dale A.; Turner, Donald A. & Pearson, David J. (1999) "Birds of Kenya & Northern Tanzania", Christopher Helm, London.External links
* [http://www.kestreling.com/gallery_fox_kestrel.html Fox Kestrel ("Falco alopex") pictures]
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