falcon in sky
Friday, November 6, 2009
Falco novaeseelandiae
The Kārearea, or New Zealand Falcon, Falco novaeseelandiae, is New Zealand's only endemic falcon and indeed, the only remaining bird of prey endemic to New Zealand.
It is frequently mistaken for the larger and more common Swamp Harrier.
A member of the Falconidae bird family, the Kārearea is mainly found in heavy bush and the steep high country in the South Island and is rarely seen north of a line through the central area of the North Island.
A small population also breeds on the Auckland Islands; the species is known only from the Chatham Islands from fossil remains.
Although protected since 1970, it is considered to be a vulnerable species.
The Kārearea is a hobby, a bird that is extremely fast and agile in flight reaching speeds of up to 200 km/h. Most of its prey is caught on the wing, and it kills with a “tooth” on its beak, unlike other Falconiformes which kill with their feet or claws.
It differs from the much larger Swamp Harrier, Circus approximans, which is common throughout New Zealand, in that it catches other birds on the wing, and seldom eats carrion. An aggressive bird that displays great violence when defending its territory, the Kārearea has been reported to attack dogs as well as people.
With a wingspan of about 45 cm and weight rarely exceeding 450 g, the Kārearea is slightly over half the size of the Kāhu, the Swamp Harrier, which it usually attacks on sight. The male is about two thirds the size of the female.
The Kārearea features on the reverse of the New Zealand $20 note and has twice been used on New Zealand stamps. It was also featured on a collectable $5 coin in 2006.
source:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Falco longipennis
French: Petit Faucon
German: Australischer Baumfalke
Spanish: Alcotán Australiano
Other common names: Little Falcon
Taxonomy: Falco longipennis Swainson, 1837, Tasmania.
Forms superspecies with F. severus, and perhaps also with F. subbuteo and F. cuvierii. Pale race murchisonianus of inland and N Australia commonly recognized, but probably invalid because intergradation occurs with dark birds of S humid areas.
Population on Lesser Sunda Is apparently a distinct race, although very limited information available. Two subspecies recognized.
The Australian Hobby or Little Falcon (Falco longipennis) is a falcon found mainly in Australia. It is also a winter migrant to Indonesia and New Guinea. It is one of Australia's smallest raptors and is about 30-36 cm long.
It strongly resembles the Peregrine Falcon, however it is much smaller and has darker plumage.
It inhabits open woodlands where it manoeuvres swiftly through the foliage in chase of other birds. It is very adaptable
and will visit urban parks and gardens, and remnant bushland.
They will hunt small birds, up to nearly their own size, and are often seen at dusk hunting bats and large insects.
When breeding it takes over nests of other birds.
The female incubates and broods young while the male hunts.
It gets its scientific name from its narrow long-flighted wings.
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