Uncommon. Migrating to coastal south-eastern Australia in late summer-fall and coastal northen and north-eastern Australia in winter. Nomadic and dispersive.
Habitat
Open and lightly timbered country, mainly inland. From sea-level - 1,000 m.
Voice
Mostly silent. Cackling screams uttered near nest. A single 'gaaark' uttered in sudden alarm. A unique, loud, high-pitched, sharp, scratchy 'eeil...eeik...' uttered every 3 - 5 seconds in courtship and display.
Black Falcon (Falco subniger) [XC679529]
by id from 'Chat Alley', Euabalong, New South Wales, Australia (call)
Breeding Season (Guide)
June - December, but mostly July - September.
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Nest
Usually uses the deserted nest of some other bird of prey or a Raven or Crows nest.
Eggs (Guide)
2 - 4, usually 3; pink-buff heavily spotted with red-brown; rounded-oval; about 54 x 40 mm. Incubation: about 32 - 34 days; by female.
Young
Semi-altricial, nidicolous. Fledge in about 42 days.
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Similar Species
With darkest morphs of Brown Falcon (Falco berigora).
References
See References.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
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