Alternative name: Little Falcon
- Falco longipennis
Identification
30-36 cm (11¾-14¼ in)
One of Australia's smallest raptors it resembles the Peregrine Falcon, however it is much smaller and has darker plumage. It gets its scientific name from its narrow long-flighted wings.
Similar Species
In flight may resemble White-throated Needletail.
Distribution
Photo © by peterday
Tolderol Game Reserve, South Australia, 17 March 2021
Found mainly in Australia. It is also a winter migrant to Indonesia and New Guinea.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are 3 subspecies[1]:
- F. l. hanieli:
- Lesser Sundas (Lombok to Timor)
- F. l. murchisonianus:
- Northern, central, and eastern Australia
- F. l. longipennis:
- Southwestern and southeastern Australia and Tasmania; partially migratory, winters to the Moluccas, New Guinea, and New Britain
Habitat
Open forest, including monsoon rainforests and scrub, savanna, parks and gardens. Lakes and marshes.
Behaviour
It inhabits open woodlands where it manoeuvres swiftly through the foliage in chase of other birds.
Diet
They will hunt small birds, up to nearly their own size, and are often seen at dusk hunting bats and large insects.
Breeding
When breeding it takes over nests of other birds. The female incubates and broods young while the male hunts.
Gallery
Click on photo for larger image
With budgerigar
Photo © by Mike Bouette
Nullagine river, Western Australia, July 2015
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Lepage D. (2021) [Avibase - https://avibase.ca/B88ECE1C ]. Retrieved 12 May 2021
- Wikipedia
- Birdforum Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Australian Hobby. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 9 April 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Australian_Hobby
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
