Are Amur and Redfooted Falcons kestrels?
The Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) and Redfooted Falcon (Falco vespertinus)
breed in eastern Asia and eastern Europe respectively. Both
species are called Falcons but they show interesting similarities to
kestrels and the Redfooted Falcon is locally called the "Blue Kestrel"
in its breeding grounds.
Similarities between the Lesser Kestrel and the Redfooted Falcons
- Colonial
- Migratory
- Many spend their winter in southern Africa
- Hover
- Insect feeders
- Similar body proportions (?)
- White talons
The DNA evidence
Prof Dr Michael Wink has performed DNA analysis of most of the raptors
in the world. DNA analysis is typically analyzed using
statistical techniques to provide trees showing how the species are
related to each other. These analyses show that both the Amur
Falcon and Redfooted Falcon are situated at the base of the tree to the
hierofalcons (desert falcons) and peregrines and are classifed closer
to the hobbies and merlins than the kestrels. However, the exact
position of the Redfooted Falcons does depend on the statistical
analysis method used. For instance, if the Maximum Parsimony method is
used, the Redfooted Falcons group much closer to the "Hobby" than in
the tree below.
Due to the difference in placing of the Redfooted Falcons on the tree
based on the different statistical methods, as well as the similarities
listed above. a possible case can be made the the Redfooted Falcons
should be grouped with the kestrels rather than the hobbies.
While they do share behaviour with the Hobbies as well such as
catching insects on the wing, the similarities with the Lesser Kestrel
are more convincing. Redfooted falcons could be argued to look
more like the grey kestrels than the Eleanora's Falcon or Hobby.
Figure: Molecular phylogeny of the falcons and kestrels reconstructed with the Maximum Likelyhood method.
References
Wink, M. DNA analysis. In Chancellor, R.D & Meyburg, B.-U. eds.
2000. Raptors at Risk. WWGBP/Hancock House Pg 136-140.