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Black Falcon
(Falco subniger)
Size: 45 cm (male) 55 cm (female); wing span 0.95-1.1 m
Weight: 480-650 g (male), 710-950 g (female)
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Black Falcons are relatively small raptors. The scientific name
("subniger") suggests that they are not black, but very dark
brown throughout, except for a lighter brown throat. The
underwing pattern is also all dark, with the flight feathers
just a bit lighter than the coverts. The tail is long and
very dark brown.
The two sexes look similar, with only minor differences.
Male
Black Falcons are dark brown throughout, with flight feathers
that are just a bit lighter than the rest of their
plumage.
Female
Black Falcons have a fine pattern of grey spots on the underside
of the flight feathers and on the undertail coverts and the
base of the underside of the tail.
Females
are larger than
males.
Unlike many other species of
falcons, they do not
have a visible
"tear drop" pattern under their eyes. Beak, legs and feet are
grey.
"Raptors"
(or "birds of prey"), most prominently, but also some species of
waders, show a pronounced
"dimorphism", i.e.
a difference between male and female birds - not just in the appearance
of the plumage, but in
other, important properties, such as size or strength.
Here we
explain why.
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Twitcher's tip |
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Compared to
Brown Falcons,
Black Falcons have much pointier wingtips, with a more
pronounced bend at the
alula. In
general, Black Falcons are more slender than
Brown Falcons.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Black
Falcon at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
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The global distribution of the Black Falcon is available
HERE
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Black Falcons are endemic to Australia.
With a few exceptions, Black Falcons inhabit roughly the eastern half
of the Australian continent plus the Kimberley in WA. They are only
rarely found in the rest of WA and not at all in the south-western
corner of that
state. Rare in Arnhemland and along the southern coast of the Gulf of
Carpentaria too, they are not found at all on Cape York peninsula.
There are no sightings of Black Falcons along a narrow strip of the
south-eastern coastline of NSW and Tasmania either.
Black Falcons hunt mostly in open country, i.e.
scrub,
heath and
open grassland,
including semi-arid and arid environments with little vegetation.
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Where to look? How to find
this species? |
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Black Falcons tend to hunt in open country. They do
so by circling at heights ranging from 30-100 m. The continuous
circling while gradually moving along, together with their very
dark overall appearance, are good identification criteria. They
are visibly smaller, slimmer and usually darker than
Brown Falcons.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
We first spotted a Black Falcon on the outskirts of Wee Waa, NSW, in
September 2012. Again spotted at Yarrie Lake,
15 km South-East of Wee Waa, in the same month.
B. Hensen reports spotting Black Falcon repeatedly at Leanyer Swamp,
Darwin, NT, in the timeframe July/August 2013.
In September 2013 we spotted a Black Falcon first above the Narrabri
rubbish tip (but not
scavenging in the rubbish) and a short time later above the township
of Narrabri. Another was seen above Narrabri Lakein August 2017.
C. Hayne reports that Black Falcons are occasionally seen in various
locations around Moree, NSW. They have been seen breeding in large
dead trees in irrigation
farm dams 25 km North-West of Moree.
H. Mouritsen reports spotting a Black Falcon near the Marrakai Track,
NT, in October 2015.
S. Debus and K. Fisher report finding a pair of Black Falcons nesting
at the airport of Tamworth, NSW, in August 2016.
M. Eaton found a Black Falcon at Lake Clarendon, QLD, in October 2018,
and another at Lake Atkinson, QLD, in May 2020.
J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours reports spotting a Black Falcon
at Adels Grove, near Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) NP, QLD, in December 2020.
A single Black Falcon was found by us at Goran Lake,
an ephemeral lake
30 km S of Gunnedah, NSW, in March 2023.
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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Direct comparison of a male Black Falcon, lower left, with a
Black Kite
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, August 2013]
Near-lateral/ventral view of a male Black Falcon in slow flight
[Narrabri, NSW, September 2013]
Lateral/ventral view of a male Black Falcon in flight;
note the almost homogeneously dark-brown appearance
[Narrabri, NSW, September 2013]
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FEMALE |
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Frontal view of a (probably female) Black Falcon
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, July 2013]
Near-dorsal view of a (probably female) Black Falcon
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, July 2013]
Dorsal view of a female Black Falcon looking back
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Adels Grove, near Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) NP, QLD, December 2020]
Frontal/ventral view of a female Black Falcon in flight; note
how the flight feathers appear to be a lighter shade of
grey-brown, because the grey spot pattern is not resolved
at this resolution
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, September 2012]
Near-lateral/ventral view of a female Black Falcon in flight
[Goran Lake, 30 km S of Gunnedah, NSW, March 2023]
Lateral view of a female Black Falcon in flight
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Clarendon, QLD, October 2018]
Lateral/ventral view of a female Black Falcon in flight
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, September 2012]
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Breeding information |
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Breeding season: July - Sep |
Eggs: 3 - 4 |
Incubation period: ca. 33 days |
Fledging age: ca. 40 days |
The timing of the breeding season depends on geographic latitude;
the period listed in the table above applies to the south-eastern
part of the Australian continent. Black Falcons can, in principle,
breed from June to December.
Nest building: N/A |
Incubation: Female |
Dependent care: Female & male |
The female incubates the eggs and also stays in the nest with the
chicks until they are strong enough to be left alone. Until then,
female and chicks depend entirely on the male to provide them with
food.
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"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna",
"jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
Type: Basket (re-used) |
Material: Sticks |
Height above ground: <10 m |
Black Falcons do not build their own nests. They either re-use
or take over nests of other species - either other raptors' or those of corvids (ravens or crows). They may
scrape off material they don't want to use, but they do not
refurbish the nest.
Female Black Falcon on its recycled Australian Raven nest, top,
with the male perched on a lower branch, bottom;
part of the tree, with the nest in it, was destroyed
in a storm in December 2016 and the clutch was lost
(photo courtesy of K. Fisher)
[Tamworth Airport, NSW, August 2016]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk",
"ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg;
"dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
Size: 42 x 32 mm |
Colour: Creamy, with
brown to chestnut speckles all over |
Shape: Ellipsoidal |
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Food, Diet |
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All raptors are carnivores. Black Falcons prey mostly on smaller
birds, such as quails, parrots and finches, but will take lizards
and small mammals as well.
During the first few weeks, raptors feed their chicks with pieces
of meat. Later on in their development, the chicks learn to tear
apart their parents' prey.
Lateral/ventral view of a Black Falcon with its prey, a small bird
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lake Atkinson, QLD, May 2020]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors.
The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.