The brown falcon (''Falco berigora'') is a relatively large

falcon Falcons () are birds of prey in the genus ''Falco'', which includes about 40 species. Falcons are widely distributed on all continents of the world except Antarctica, though closely related raptors did occur there in the Eocene. Adult falcons ...

native to Australia and

New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's second-largest island with an area of . Located in Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is separated from Australia by the wide Torres ...

. A number of

plumage Plumage ( "feather") is a layer of feathers that covers a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage differ between species and subspecies and may vary with age classes. Within species, ...

morphs occur, with the primary distinction being between the pale morph and the dark morph. Both morphs usually have dark brown upper parts and wing

coverts A covert feather or tectrix on a bird is one of a set of feathers, called coverts (or ''tectrices''), which, as the name implies, cover other feathers. The coverts help to smooth airflow over the wings and tail. Ear coverts The ear coverts are sm ...

. Dark morph birds have predominantly dark under parts, although some light streaking is common. Pale morph birds have white underparts that are varyingly streaked with brown, sometimes heavily so. Pale individuals may also have prominently white under tail coverts and these may be diagnostic. A distinctive aspect of their behaviour is shown in the breeding season when Brown Falcons make a loud, high pitched, cackle call (like a laying hen) and screeching while in flight. The

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...

name ''berigora'' has Aboriginal origins.

Description

Adults are usually long. They are found in light and dark forms and a variety of intermediates. Animals typically have red-brown heads with narrow black streaks with a light crown and off-white chin. Wings are a spotted red-brown with dark brown quills. Beaks are light blue/grey; eyes are brown. The falcons make a loud cackle call uttered frequently.

Breeding and habitat

Brown falcons breed from June to November, usually in an old

nest A nest is a structure built for certain animals to hold eggs or young. Although nests are most closely associated with birds, members of all classes of vertebrates and some invertebrates construct nests. They may be composed of organic materia ...

of a larger passerine or another hawk species; they occasionally nest in hollow limbs of trees. The brown falcon lays between two and five eggs that have red and brown spots and blotches.

Subspecies

* ''F. b. novaeguineae'' : central and eastern New Guinea and coastal northern Australia ''IOC World Bird List''
/ref> * ''F. b. berigora'' : Australia (except coastal north) and Tasmania

Diet

The brown falcon eats small mammals, including house mice. They also eat young

rabbit Rabbits, also known as bunnies or bunny rabbits, are small mammals in the family Leporidae (which also contains the hares) of the order Lagomorpha (which also contains the pikas). ''Oryctolagus cuniculus'' includes the European rabbit specie ...

s in the summer. It also eats small birds, lizards, snakes, and a variety of invertebrates, particularly caterpillars, grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles. Insects form the bulk of the animals' diets during winter and the falcons often chase the insects on the ground.

Behaviour

Brown falcons and other Australian firehawks have been observed picking up sticks with flames and dropping them to spread fires and prey on escaping animals.

References

Gallery

Image:Falco berigora.jpg,

John Gould John Gould (; 14 September 1804 – 3 February 1881) was an English ornithologist. He published a number of monographs on birds, illustrated by plates produced by his wife, Elizabeth Gould, and several other artists, including Edward Lear, ...

illustration Image:Brown falcon1444.jpg, Brown falcon portrait Brown-Falcon,-Vic,-3.1.2008.jpg, Brown falcon File:Falco berigora -Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia -flying-8 (1).jpg, In flight in Victoria, Australia Image:Brown Falcon pikedale.ogv, Video of wild-bird attending prey, Pikedale, S. Queensland File:Falco berigora pale 001.png, Adult, pale morph, Tasmania File:F berigora pale 002.png, Adult (pale morph) takes flight, Tasmania File:Brown Falcon on thistles.jpg, alt=Brown Falcon perched on thistles near Lake Borrie, Vic, looking back at photographer., Brown Falcon perched on thistles near Lake Borrie, Vic. {{Taxonbar, from=Q605547

brown falcon The brown falcon (''Falco berigora'') is a relatively large falcon native to Australia and New Guinea. A number of plumage morphs occur, with the primary distinction being between the pale morph and the dark morph. Both morphs usually have dar ...

Birds of Australia Birds of New Guinea Diurnal raptors of Australia

Articles containing video clips Firehawks