Biology of Frances's Sparrowhawk, Accipiter francesiae, on the Comoro Islands

Throughout their range on Madagascar and in the Comoros Frances's Sparrowha wks, Accipiter francesiae, breed from October to December, in the late dry/ early wet season, resulting in young leaving the nest before or when the he avy rains start in January/February. In contrast to Madagascar, nests on Ma yotte (Comoros) are placed in exposed positions, and are maintained and enl arged after the young fledge, possibly as a form of territorial advertiseme nt. On overage, two young fledged per successful nest, and 1.5 fledged per nesting attempt. During the breeding season, sparrow-hawks on Mayotte consu me more reptiles than do those on Madagascar. On Mayotte, second-year birds can be recognized by plumage type. Recruitment into the breeding populatio n does not occur during the first year, but possibly only from the third ye ar Frances's Sparrowhawks are unevenly distributed on Mayotte and post-bree ding dispersal may take place from the wettest zone, where the highest bree ding densities occur, to the drier southeastern parts.