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.

A dark moustachial streak running from the basis of the bill backwards to sides of the throat.

The long flight feathers are blackish brown, the inner webs are covered with white and chestnut spots.

Body and underwing coverts are dark chestnut brown with black streaks and spots.

The Malagasy kestrel has a large range of occurrence and it is native to Madagascar, Mayotte, and the Comores.

It is a breeding resident on Madagascar where it occurs in savannas and wetlands but also artificial landscapes in the vicinity of human settlements in altitudes from 0 to 2000 asl.

[3] Insects take up the majority of the Malagasy kestrel's diet, which are usually taken during flight, but it also occasionally eats small birds, frogs, and mammals, all of which are taken on the ground.