Other Names (World)
Brown Falcon, Brown Hawk, Cackling Hawk, Orange-speckled Hawk, Striped Brown Hawk, Striped Hawk, Western Hawk, White-breasted Hawk, Sparrow Hawk, Chicken Hawk
Food
Small birds, snakes, mice and grasshoppers. Unlike the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), the small birds are usually taken by pouncing on them, rather than in the air.
Voice
Screeches, hoarse chuckles, rattles and high-pitched cackles. Very noisy.
Brown Falcon (Falco berigora) [XC674017]
by Marc Anderson from Lune River, Huon Valley Council, Tasmania, Australia (call)
Brown Falcon (Falco berigora) [XC674016]
by Marc Anderson from Ida Bay, Huon Valley Council, Tasmania, Australia (call)
Nest
A platform composed of sticks and twigs, lined with bark fragments. Usually the deserted nest of some other bird of prey or Raven is used.
Eggs (Guide)
2 - 5, usually 3; pale buff, with mainly red-brown spots and blotches; oval; about 50 x 38 mm. Incubation: about 30 days; by both sexes.
Young
Semi-altricial, nidiclous. Fledge in 40 - 45 days.
Subspecies
Has been separated in genus Ieracidea or Hieracidea, but a typical Falco in most respects and closely related to New Zealand Falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae). Up to seven subspecies described, but much confusion owing to complexity of colour morphs, and recent studies suggest that most are invalid.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
berigora Vigors & Horsfield, 1827 - Eastern, central and northern Australia and Tasmania.
novaeguineae (Meyer, AB, 1894) - Papua New Guinea, Dampier and Vulcan Islands.
occidentalis (Gould, 1844) - South-western and central-western Australia.
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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BirdLife International Species Factsheet