The Seychelles kestrel is a small bird of prey belonging to the genus Falco in the falcon family, Falconidae. It is endemic to the Seychelles Islands where it is the only breeding bird of prey. It is known in Seychellois Creole as the katiti after its loud, shrill call.
Region
Seychelles Archipelago, Western Indian Ocean
Typical Environment
Found on several granitic islands including Mahé, Praslin, La Digue, Silhouette and nearby islets. It occupies forest edges, secondary woodland, coconut and cinnamon plantations, rocky outcrops, and urban or village areas. The kestrel often uses cliffs, tall trees, and buildings for perches and nesting sites. It tolerates a mosaic of habitats but depends on adequate prey and nest cavities or ledges.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 900 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Seychelles kestrel is the only breeding bird of prey in the Seychelles and is known locally in Seychellois Creole as the 'katiti' for its sharp, repetitive call. It hunts mainly by hovering or from exposed perches along forest edges and in human-modified areas. The species faces pressures from habitat loss and predation by introduced species such as barn owls and cats.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
frequent hovering with short rapid wingbeats; swift, direct dashes between perches
Social Behavior
Usually encountered as single birds or territorial pairs. Monogamous pairs defend small territories and often reuse traditional nesting sites. Nests are placed in tree cavities, cliff ledges, palm crowns, or building niches; clutches are small and parental care is shared.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A loud, shrill series of repeated 'ki-ki-ki' or 'kitti-kitti' notes, especially during territory defense and at nest sites. Calls are sharp and carry well over forest edges and village clearings.
Plumage
Rufous-brown upperparts with dark barring; paler buff to whitish underparts with fine streaking. Tail rufous with a dark subterminal band; wings relatively short and rounded compared with larger kestrels.
Diet
Primarily takes small reptiles such as day geckos and skinks. Also captures large insects including grasshoppers, beetles, and cockroaches. Occasionally takes small birds and introduced rodents where available. Prey is seized on the ground, on trunks, or from foliage after brief hovers or quick perch-to-perch sallies.
Preferred Environment
Hunts along forest margins, plantations, rocky slopes, and around settlements where prey is abundant and visibility is good. Often uses telephone poles, exposed branches, or boulders as vantage perches.
