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Pacific BazaAlternate name(s): "Crested Hawk", "Pacific Lizard-Hawk" Size: 35-45 cm; wing span 0.8-1.1 m Weight: 260-360 g (male), 290-450 g (female) |
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Photos |
Race "subcristata"
Eastern cline - QLD/NSW
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Frontal/ventral view of a male(?) Pacific Baza looking sideways
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Pullenvale, QLD, November 2023]
Near-lateral/ventral view of a male Pacific Baza
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Curtin Fig Tree, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, September 2020]
Lateral/ventral view of a Pacific Baza - the absence of any
brown on the neck indicates that this is a male
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, October 2021]
Lateral/ventral view of a male Pacific Baza looking sideways
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, October 2021]
Dorsal view of a male Pacific Baza - note the all-grey neck
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Brisbane, QLD, April 2018]
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FEMALE |
Frontal/ventral portrait of a female Pacific Baza; note
the rufous hues on the neck
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Malanda, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, July 2020]
Frontal/ventral view of a female Pacific Baza
(photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy)
[Near Townsville, QLD, July 2011]
Close-up near-frontal view of a female Pacific Baza looking sideways
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, March 2023]
Close-up near-frontal view of a female Pacific Baza - note the
brown wash on the sides of the neck
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, March 2023]
Near-frontal view of a female Pacific Baza looking sideways
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Rocky Creek, Cairns, QLD, July 2013]
Near-lateral view of a female(?) Pacific Baza
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Stanage Bay, QLD, July 2021]
Lateral/ventral view of a female Pacific Baza
(photo courtesy of M. Fleming)
[Timmallallie NP,
NSW, September 2020]
Lateral/ventral view of a female Pacific Baza looking backwards
(photo courtesy of M. Fleming)
[Timmallallie NP,
NSW, September 2020]
Close-up near-dorsal/ventral view of a female Pacific Baza
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, March 2023]
Close-up dorsal/ventral view of a female Pacific Baza
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD, March 2023]
Sex unknown |
Dorsal view of a Pacific Baza, different posture
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Highland Park, Gold Coast, QLD, August 2014]
Lateral view of a Pacific Baza in flight
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Whittaker's Lagoon, NSW, December 2013]
Pacific Baza in flight, seen from underneath
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Rocky Creek, Cairns, QLD, July 2013]
Frontal view of a Pacific Baza in captivity spreading its wings
(photo courtesy of J. Thurmer)
Near-lateral portrait of a Pacific Baza in captivity
(photo courtesy of J. Thurmer)
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Close-up frontal view of an immature Pacific Baza
(photo courtesy of L. Tonnochy)
[Near Townsville, QLD, July 2011]
Lateral view of a juvenile Pacific Baza (photo courtesy
of L. Tonnochy)
[Near Townsville, QLD, July 2011]
Lateral view of a juvenile Pacific Baza, different posture
(photo courtesy of E.
Scott)
[Toonumbar State Forest, northern NSW, February 2017]
Dorsal view of a juvenile Pacific Baza (photo courtesy
of L. Tonnochy)
[Near Townsville, QLD, July 2011]
Juvenile Pacific Baza under attack by a
Bell Miner
(photo courtesy of E.
Scott)
[Toonumbar State Forest, northern NSW, February 2017]
Juvenile Pacific Baza right after take-off
(photo courtesy of E.
Scott)
[Toonumbar State Forest, northern NSW, February 2017]
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Partly obscured frontal view of a Pacific Baza; this is the bird whose
calls were recorded
on 19 November 2019
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Bird Billabong, Adelaide River, Mary River NP, Top End, NT, November 2019]
Lateral view of a male Pacific Baza
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Katherine, NT, July 2020]
Lateral view of a male Pacific Baza
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Katherine, NT, July 2020]
Dorsal view of a male Pacific Baza; this is the bird whose
calls were recorded
on 19 November 2019
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Bird Billabong, Adelaide River, Mary River NP, Top End, NT, November 2019]
Lateral/ventral view of a male(?) Pacific Baza in flight
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Cox Peninsula, near Darwin, NT, August 2019]
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FEMALE |
Frontal view of a Pacific Baza with its prey, a locust
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Katherine, NT, July 2020]
Lateral view of a fierce-looking female Pacific Baza
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, August 2013]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Partly obscured view of a juvenile Pacific Baza; note
the rufous collar (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Buffalo Creek Point, Darwin, NT, January 2018]
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: Oct - Feb | Eggs: 3 - 4 | Incubation period: 30 - 32 days | Fledging age: ca. 34 days |
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
Type: Basket | Material: Sticks, lined with fresh leaves | Height above ground: 10 - 30 m |
Pacific Bazas prefer to nest in valleys, usually not far from water. The nest is small and light-weight, placed in an outer horizontal fork, right in or under the foliage of a tree crown.
Pacific Baza on its nest, high up in the canopy of a tall tree
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Howard Springs NR, near Darwin, NT, November 2020]
Pacific Baza on its nest, high up in the canopy of a tall tree
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Berrimah, Darwin, NT, November 2020]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
Size: 43 x 34 mm | Colour: White | Shape: Rounded |
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Food, Diet |
All raptors are carnivores. Pacific Bazas prey on large insects, such as locusts and mantids, but also frogs and small reptiles. They normally take these in the air or from foliage or branches, rarely from the ground.
Frontal view of a Pacific Baza with its prey, a locust
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Katherine, NT, July 2020]
Frontal view of a Pacific Baza with its prey, a frog
(photo courtesy of A. Lee)
[East Russell, near Cairns, QLD, October 2020]
Juvenile Pacific Baza devouring what looks like a locust
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Biniguy, NSW, January 2011]
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
pacbaza_pb_20230509.mp3 |
subcristata (Top End, NT) |
Contact calls? (pair Q&A) | © PB | |
pacbaza_pb_20230509_2.mp3 |
subcristata (Top End, NT) |
Contact calls? (pair Q&A) | © PB | |
pacbaza_me_20231025.m4a |
subcristata (SE QLD) |
Contact calls? (Q&A) | © ME | |
pacbaza_pb_20191119.m4a |
subcristata (Top End, NT) |
Begging calls juvenile? | © PB |
More Pacific Baza sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.