Immature birds have a brown, streaked head, spots on the breast and a buff tip to the tail.

It rarely hovers, instead feeding by sitting on an exposed perch and waiting for prey to pass, then swooping down to catch it.

Lizards, particularly green day geckos (Phelsuma) and skinks (Mabuya), make up 92% of its diet and it will also take small birds, frogs, rats and insects.

Threats are thought to include habitat loss due to logging, housing development and fires as well as predation and competition by introduced species.

Rats, cats and barn owls have reduced the lizard population on which the kestrels depend and they may take eggs and chicks.