Madagascan Kestrel
Madagascan KestrelMadagascan KestrelMadagascan KestrelMadagascan Kestrel

Madagascan Kestrel

Falco newtoni

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
20–30% · With luck
overall probability at Ranomafana National Park
135 Verified records at Ranomafana National Park
August Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The Malagasy kestrel (Falco newtoni), also known as the Madagascar kestrel, Malagasy spotted kestrel, Newton's kestrel, Madagascar spotted kestrel, katiti (Creole) or hitsikitsika (Malagasy), is a small bird of prey of the genus Falco. It is named after British ornithologist Edward Newton. It occurs in two subspecies on Madagascar and at Aldabra. The race from Aldabra is also called Aldabra kestrel (Falco newtoni aldabranus). Its closest living relative is the Seychelles kestrel; they were at one time considered conspecific. Their common ancestors appear to have diverged very recently, probably less than 1 million years ago during the Early or Middle Pleistocene. Wikipedia →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Madagascan Kestrel sighting in Ranomafana National Park, based on 135 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Ranomafana National Park

Eleonora's Falcon
LC

Eleonora's Falcon

Bird

Falco eleonorae

Insufficient data
Peregrine Falcon
LC

Peregrine Falcon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Falco peregrinus

Insufficient data
Banded Kestrel
LC Endemic

Banded Kestrel

Bird

Falco zoniventris

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
10–20
Feb
20–30
Mar
30–40
Apr
30–40
May
20–30
Jun
20–30
Jul
30–40
Aug
20–30
Sep
10–20
Oct
10–20
Nov
10–20
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Berenty Reserve 🇲🇬 Madagascar
80–90%
2 Ranomafana National Park 🇲🇬 Madagascar
20–30%
3 Ankarafantsika National Park 🇲🇬 Madagascar
5–10%

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Madagascan Kestrel in Ranomafana National Park?

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Madagascan Kestrel sighting in Ranomafana National Park, based on 135 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Madagascan Kestrel in Ranomafana National Park?

August has the highest sighting rate for Madagascan Kestrel in Ranomafana National Park in our monthly data.

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