Asturaetus furcillatusDe Vis, 1906 Plioaetus furcillatus (De Vis, 1906)
A brown falcon used for falconry in Tasmania
A number of plumage 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. 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.[2]
Adults are usually 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20 in) 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 habitatedit
Brown falcons breed from June to November, usually in an old nest 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.
Subspeciesedit
F. b. novaeguineae : central and eastern New Guinea and coastal northern Australia[3]
F. b. berigora : Australia (except coastal north) and Tasmania
Dietedit
The brown falcon eats small mammals, including house mice. They also eat young rabbits 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.
Behaviouredit
Brown falcons and other Australian firehawks have been said to pick up sticks with flames and dropping them to spread fires and prey on escaping animals.[4] According to Audubon, "That anecdotal evidence is sourced from personal testimonies by Australian firefighters and aboriginal people, as well as historical literature, and amounts to 14 firsthand narratives of this specific occurrence."[5][6]
Referencesedit
^BirdLife International (2016). "Falco berigora". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22696354A93556228. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22696354A93556228.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Greshko, Michael (8 January 2018). . National Geographic. Archived from the original on February 22, 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
^Schmitt, Kristen (February 22, 2016). "Can Birds Actually Start Forest Fires?: Anecdotal evidence suggests that certain birds of prey use fire to their advantage—but the research hasn't been caught on camera yet". Audubon. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
^Bonta, Mark; Gosford, Robert; Eussen, Dick; Ferguson, Nathan; Loveless, Erana; Witwer, Maxwell (2017). "Intentional Fire-Spreading by "Firehawk" Raptors in Northern Australia". Journal of Ethnobiology. 37 (4): 700. doi:10.2993/0278-0771-37.4.700. S2CID 90806420.
Further readingedit
Birds of The World by Colin Harrison and Alan Greensmith
Complete Book of Australian Birds Reader's Digest
Galleryedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brown falcon (Falco berigora).
Wikispecies has information related to Falco berigora.
Brown falcon perched on thistles near Lake Borrie, Vic.
Brown falcon attending prey, Pikedale, S. Queensland
April 15, 2024
brown, falcon, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 2016, learn,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Brown falcon news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message The brown falcon Falco berigora is a relatively large falcon native to Australia and New Guinea Brown falconAt Ingham Queensland AustraliaConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder FalconiformesFamily FalconidaeGenus FalcoSpecies F berigoraBinomial nameFalco berigoraVigors amp Horsfield 1827SynonymsAsturaetus furcillatus De Vis 1906Plioaetus furcillatus De Vis 1906 A brown falcon used for falconry in TasmaniaA number of plumage 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 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 2 The species name berigora has Aboriginal origins Contents 1 Description 2 Breeding and habitat 3 Subspecies 4 Diet 5 Behaviour 6 References 7 Further reading 8 GalleryDescription editAdults are usually 40 to 50 cm 16 to 20 in 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 editBrown falcons breed from June to November usually in an old nest 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 editF b novaeguineae central and eastern New Guinea and coastal northern Australia 3 F b berigora Australia except coastal north and TasmaniaDiet editThe brown falcon eats small mammals including house mice They also eat young rabbits 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 editBrown falcons and other Australian firehawks have been said to pick up sticks with flames and dropping them to spread fires and prey on escaping animals 4 According to Audubon That anecdotal evidence is sourced from personal testimonies by Australian firefighters and aboriginal people as well as historical literature and amounts to 14 firsthand narratives of this specific occurrence 5 6 References edit BirdLife International 2016 Falco berigora IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22696354A93556228 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22696354A93556228 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Brown Falcon Archived from the original on August 31 2021 IOC World Bird List Greshko Michael 8 January 2018 Why These Birds Carry Flames In Their Beaks National Geographic Archived from the original on February 22 2021 Retrieved 21 October 2022 Schmitt Kristen February 22 2016 Can Birds Actually Start Forest Fires Anecdotal evidence suggests that certain birds of prey use fire to their advantage but the research hasn t been caught on camera yet Audubon Retrieved May 18 2023 Bonta Mark Gosford Robert Eussen Dick Ferguson Nathan Loveless Erana Witwer Maxwell 2017 Intentional Fire Spreading by Firehawk Raptors in Northern Australia Journal of Ethnobiology 37 4 700 doi 10 2993 0278 0771 37 4 700 S2CID 90806420 Further reading editBirds of The World by Colin Harrison and Alan Greensmith Complete Book of Australian Birds Reader s DigestGallery edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brown falcon Falco berigora nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Falco berigora nbsp John Gould illustration nbsp Brown falcon portrait nbsp Brown falcon nbsp In flight in Victoria Australia nbsp Adult pale morph Tasmania nbsp Adult pale morph takes flight Tasmania nbsp Brown falcon perched on thistles near Lake Borrie Vic source source source source Brown falcon attending prey Pikedale S Queensland Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Brown falcon amp oldid 1212139518, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
