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Brown FalconAlternative names: "Brown Hawk", "Cackling Hawk" Size: 40-50 cm; wing span 90 cm - 1.2 m |
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Habitat |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
Brown Falcons inhabit the entire Australian continent, including Tasmania. Staying in the south-eastern quarter of the continent or the south-west of WA during their breeding season, outside the breeding season they venture into even the most arid parts of the interior.
Brown Falcons hunt in various types of habitat, from open forest to semi-arid and arid environments. They are not found in dense forests such as rainforest.
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Sightings |
Brown Falcons are a relatively common bird species throughout Australia. Once one knows what to look for, one can spot them quite regularly.
Specimens of the dark-morphology version of Brown Falcons were spotted by us in September/October of 2006, in different locations 20-30 km south-west of Narrabri, NSW. Once seen close enough to identify them correctly, Brown Falcons appear to be quite common in inland NSW.
Also spotted in July 2007 50 km south of Narrabri. A couple of dark morphology Brown Falcons was spotted in that same area in March 2009. They were being hustled by both a family of Australian Magpies and a pair of Black-shouldered Kites.
A bird in the light morphology was seen in the timeframe August to November 2008, 20 km east of Narrabri. When first spotted in early August, it had an impressive entourage of Australian Ravens keen on accompanying it out of their territory. The next day, however, it was still there, together with its partner, hunting in open grassland. One of its catches, a mouse, was devoured while sitting on a wooden fencepost.
An immature bird with light morphology was spotted by us by a roadside 50 km north of Hawker, SA, in March 2008. Another of the kind was seen in Byfield National Park, QLD, in July 2009.
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Photos |
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Light morphology
Frontal view of a Brown Falcon
The same bird as above, now with its head turned
Brown Falcon shortly after takeoff
Here the same bird as above, keeping an eye on a pursuing raven; note how, depending on light conditions, its plumage appears a lot darker than shown below (the same bird)
Brown Falcon hovering above its prey (click on image to see a slightly different posture)
Immature Brown Falcon
Frontal view from beneath of a very pale immature Brown Falcon
Photo of the same bird as above, at a less acute angle
Dark morphology
Near-frontal view of a Brown Falcon
Frontal view of a Brown Falcon
Lateral view of a Brown Falcon
Rear view of a Brown Falcon on a fence
Brown Falcon in a dead treetop
The same bird as in the photo above, seen at a slightly
different angle
If identified correctly, these two are Brown Falcons; the
smaller bird is an adult, most likely male, whilte the larger
one must be a female
Closer view of the same female bird as in the photo above
Near-frontal view of an intermediate(-age) Brown Falcon
Brown Falcon taking off from a dead treetop
This one almost got away... immature Brown Falcon close-up
The same bird as shown above, here seen flying away
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Food |
All raptors are carnivores. Brown Falcons prey on small mammals, lizards, snakes and ground birds, which are taken on the ground.
