Spotted Kestrel

The Spotted Kestrel, or Falco moluccensis, is a bird of prey belonging to the family Falconidae. This raptor is also known colloquially as the Moluccan Kestrel. It is a relatively small falcon, with a length ranging from 26 to 32 centimeters and a wingspan of 59 to 71 centimeters. The average weight of a Spotted Kestrel is about 162 grams. The species exhibits less pronounced sexual dimorphism in size and plumage compared to the common kestrel.

Identification Tips

Males of the species can be identified by their grey tails featuring a broad subterminal band and white tips. Females also possess grey tails with white tips, but they are distinguished by having nine dark bands. Juvenile Spotted Kestrels are quite similar in appearance to females, yet they are darker and more heavily marked. The eggs of the Spotted Kestrel are akin to those of the common kestrel and the Oriental hobby in color and shape.

Habitat

The Spotted Kestrel favors grasslands dotted with trees, lightly wooded cultivation areas, and the peripheries of primary and tall secondary forests. It may occasionally venture into forests along logging roads and sometimes resides in clearings within forested regions. Human habitations are also within its range of habitats.

Distribution

This kestrel is found throughout Indonesia, with its presence noted across Wallacea and Java.

Behaviour

The Spotted Kestrel leads a more sedentary existence compared to its relative, the common kestrel. It is inferred that the species has small habitat ranges and exhibits seasonal movements during the wet and dry seasons.

Song & Calls

The vocalizations of the Spotted Kestrel include a common "keek, keek, keek" call, similar to other kestrels. When in flight, it emits a more scream-like "rrrrit, rrrrit, rrrrit."

Breeding

Breeding behaviors have been observed during both the dry season (June–July) and the wet season (December–January), suggesting the possibility of breeding in both periods. However, more data is required to confirm this.

Diet and Feeding

The Spotted Kestrel's diet primarily consists of small mammals, birds (notably waterfowl and doves), lizards, and insects. While specific feeding behaviors are not well-documented, inferences can be made from the diet of the closely related Nankeen Kestrel. On Christmas Island, for instance, the Nankeen Kestrel feeds predominantly on the giant grasshopper, with insects being the most frequent prey, though vertebrates contribute significantly to the diet's mass.

Nesting

The Spotted Kestrel does not construct its own nests but rather lays eggs in abandoned nests of other raptors or corvids. Nesting sites include man-made structures, cliff sides, and the peaked roofs of traditional houses or palm tree crowns in Indonesia. Nesting occurs from March through September or October. Clutch sizes and incubation periods are similar to those of the Nankeen Kestrel, with males assisting in incubation and fledging periods lasting 31 to 35 days.

Conservation status

The Spotted Kestrel is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not at immediate risk of widespread decline.