Its primary habitat was native, evergreen, subtropical forests, which now only remain in the south-west of the island, but captive-bred birds have shown greater tolerance for degraded and open areas, such as secondary forest and shrubland (Jones 1998, Carter and Jones 1999, Kemp et al. 2020). These types of habitats may however be sinks, with a higher risk of predation and disease and lower food resources and productivity (Burgess et al. 2011, Jones et al. 2013). Avoidance of agricultural areas may be partly due to a lack of isolated mature trees to use as vantage points (Burgess et al. 2009). It preys mainly on endemic arboreal Phelsuma day-geckos, as well as other reptiles, but can take small birds, insects, and introduced shrews and juvenile rats too (Temple 1977, Jones 1987, Jones et al. 2013, Kemp et al. 2020). A territorial species, pairs may stay together for several years, with divorce occurring after failed breeding (Jones et al. 2013). It traditionally nests in volcanic rock-cavities, and tree holes, within forest territories (Temple 1977, Jones 1987, Jones et al. 2013). Clutches usually contain 3-4 eggs, but may range between 1 and 5 (Jones et al. 2013).

The species is restricted to Mauritius, and has undergone a recovery in range after successful reintroductions, from just very small remnant population in the Black River Gorge in 1974 (Safford and Jones 1997, Nicoll et al. 2021) to four discrete subpopulations across the island by the end of the 1994 breeding season (Nicoll et al. 2004, Nicoll et al. 2021). These were located on mountain chains in the north, east and south-west of Mauritius, the latter holding two subpopulations (hereafter referred to as the southern and the western sub-populations) (Jones and Swinnerton 1997, Nicoll et al. 2021, Tatayah 2022).
However, by 2007, the small sub-population in the Moka Range in the north of the island, which most likely never held more than three breeding pairs, had gone extinct (V. Tatayah in litt. 2012, Jones et al. 2013, Nicoll et al. 2021), with this area badly affected by exotic plant species (Cade 2008, Dale 2008). This has reduced the species' EOO considerably, from 880 km² (BirdLife International 2016) to 540km² (this study), and reduced its number of subpopulations to three (Tatayah 2022). There is no record of dispersal to other locations despite intensive monitoring through colour ringing (Ewing et al. 2008, Senapathi et al. 2011), and it is considered unlikely that there is any interchange between the subpopulations (Nevoux et al. 2013, Nicoll et al. 2021). The species' AOO is now considered to measure a maximum of 316 km² (this study).
Since 2007, declines have also been observed in the western population (Nicoll et al. 2021), particularly in suboptimal habitat on the periphery of its range (V. Tatayah in litt. 2012, Jones et al. 2013). The eastern population has grown and stabilised, whereas the southern population is did not grow much before stabilising (Nicoll et al. 2021).

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I and II. A recovery programme, at first concentrating on research, was initiated in 1973 (Nicoll et al. 2004). From 1984 to 1994, an intensive management programme significantly increased population numbers. Activities included captive propagation and restocking, supplementary feeding, nest-site enhancement, provision of nest boxes, nest guarding, control of predators around nest- and release-sites, clutch manipulations, brood manipulations, treatment of parasite infestations on chicks and the rescue of eggs/young from failing nests (C. Jones in litt. 2000, Jones et al. 2013). Release sites included the Bambous and Moka Mountain ranges and the Bel Ombre region. 
Since 1994, there has been no release of captive-bred birds (Jones 1998) and little active conservation management (Jones and Swinnerton 1997), although provision of nest-boxes and monitoring of survival and productivity continue. Research is on-going into genetic variation so that populations can be managed to preserve genetic diversity (Jones and Swinnerton 1997, Groombridge et al. 2000, Groombridge et al. 2001, Ewing et al. 2008). In October 2005, it was announced that plans for the construction of a highway through the east coast mountains IBA had been cancelled, with a different route to be used (Anon. 2006). The construction of the highway would have damaged the south-eastern forest, home to about half the species' world population, centred around Ferney Valley, which has now become a conservation area (Anon. 2006, V. Tatayah in litt. 2012). Long-term monitoring has shown that the species clutch size is higher in artificial nest boxes than in natural sites (Nicoll et al. 2021).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Continue and increase detailed and systematic population monitoring and ecological studies (C. Jones in litt. 2000, Nicoll et al. 2021), particularly using molecular techniques to monitor population size (Groombridge et al. 2001). There are no plans to introduce the species to islands outside of Mauritius (Tatayah 2022). Restart captive breeding and reintroduction, particularly between subpopulations to improve genetic diversity (Jones et al. 2013). Continue and expand provision of improved long-lasting nest boxes, particularly in the western population where natural nesting sites are lacking and scale-up nest site management, all which may be more effective than reintroductions / reinforcement (Jones et al. 2013, Nicoll et al. 2021).

Considering the overall habitat now available to the species on the island, it is likely that the carrying capacity of Mauritius will be below 1,000 individuals and therefore the population will probably always remain quite small (Jones et al. 2013), but it is hoped that by continuing and increasing conservation measures, the species population will be functional in the long-term (Tatayah 2022).