Malta's controversial Spring hunting season has been brought to an early end following the jailing of a man for shooting a protected bird of prey.

Kirstin Mifsud, 24, was Tuesday jailed for a year and fined 5,000 euros, 24 hours after shooting a kestrel. Authorities became aware of his action because the bird fell into a school playground while the children were outside on a break.

It was the sixth recent reported incident of a protected bird being shot and prompted Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to end the season three days earlier than scheduled.

The season opened on April 14, just days after the pro-hunting lobby narrowly won a referendum on whether it should continue.

Under a special exemption from European Union law designed to protect migratory birds, hunters in Malta are allowed to shoot up to 11,000 turtle doves and up to 5,000 quail during the short season.

The hunting is controversial because the birds pass through Malta on their way north before they have had a chance to breed.

Mifsud was sentenced by a magistrate under recently-introduced fast-track procedures for crimes carrying penalties of up to two years.

Penalties for illegal hunting have been considerably stiffened in a bid to stamp out activities that authorities see as damaging to the island's image. Officials said Mifsud would likely serve nine months of his year-long term.

The rules governing hunting give the prime minister the power to end the season when he decides to without reference to parliament.