![Falco berigora taranna](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Falco_berigora_taranna.jpg)
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
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
and
New Guinea
New Guinea (; Hiri Motu
Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a language of Papua New Guinea, which is spoken in surrounding areas of Port Moresby (Capital of Papua New Guinea).
It is a simplified version of ...
.
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 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 the appropriate s ...
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.
Beak
The beak, bill, or rostrum is an external anatomical structure found mostly in birds, but also in turtles, non-avian dinosaurs and a few mammals. A beak is used for eating, preening, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food ...
s 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 speci ...
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
Further reading
*''Birds of The World'' by Colin Harrison and Alan Greensmith
*''Complete Book of Australian Birds'' Reader's Digest
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
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
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 dark ...
Birds of Australia
Birds of New Guinea
Diurnal raptors of Australia
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 dark ...
Articles containing video clips
Firehawks