Mauritius Kestrel
Falco punctatus
ENEndangered Endemic to Mauritius
- Family
- Falcons and Caracaras (Falconidae)
- Order
- Falconiformes
Overview
The Mauritius kestrel (Falco punctatus) is a bird of prey from the family Falconidae endemic to the forests of Mauritius, where it is restricted to the southwestern plateau's forests, cliffs, and ravines. It is the most distinct of the Indian Ocean kestrels. It colonized its island home to evolve into a distinct species probably during the Gelasian (Late Pliocene). It is the most distant living species among the western Indian Ocean kestrels.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Dense forest of southwestern Mauritius (western Indian Ocean).
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Mauritius kestrel
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
