Australian Raptors

Aust Raptors_Page_01_Image_0001By Jim Stevenson
Hi Folks, for you raptor lovers like Jeff M up in Atlanta, this is the article for you. Many of these are fairly common, but this year I also got Little Eagle, Black Falcon, Black-breasted Buzzard and a couple of other good ones. Don’t forget to mark your calendar for a morning (8:30-noon) around Labor Day to visit my home for fall migrants, and maybe go down to San Luis Pass. It’s free, but you may buy your calendars there (or a book) and avoid postage. Whatever. That’s Thursday, Saturday, Monday (LD) and Wednesday. Pick only one day, though. No need to reserve, just show up. Park in the cul-de-sac. More later.

I fly in a couple of days and soon (one week!) is the Arizona trip.

The highly-variable Pacific Baza really doesn’t fit well into any group we are familiar with, from buteos to accipiters, but is quite successful picking off lowly vertebrates in Australia. Few raptors have crests or topknots, and their tame, abiding nature is a good testament to the few Aussies that would shoot such a creature.

The highly-variable Pacific Baza really doesn’t fit well into any group we are familiar with, from buteos to accipiters, but is quite successful picking off lowly vertebrates in Australia. Few raptors have crests or topknots, and their tame, abiding nature is a good testament to the few Aussies that would shoot such a creature.


Bazas have the same steel-gray color on the back as our buteos like Swainson’s & Broad- winged, or accipiters like Cooper’s & Sharp-shinned. The barring below is also fairly common in those two genera (though on belly), but it’s their structure that keeps them in a separate genus. They do sit quite erect on poles and dead trees, perhaps mimicking the tree and gaining an advantage over their prey.

Bazas have the same steel-gray color on the back as our buteos like Swainson’s & Broad- winged, or accipiters like Cooper’s & Sharp-shinned. The barring below is also fairly common in those two genera (though on belly), but it’s their structure that keeps them in a separate genus. They do sit quite erect on poles and dead trees, perhaps mimicking the tree and gaining an advantage over their prey.


Here is the Baza from the side, as well as overhead.

Here is the Baza from the side, as well as overhead.

Not unlike our White-tailed Kite, the Black-shouldered Kite hunts rats and lizards from mid-level perches in open country. With the same red eyes they can watch for prey in dark, shady areas or very late in the afternoon. Kites have pointed wings not unlike falcons, but their flight is slow and deliberate, diving feet first.

Not unlike our White-tailed Kite, the Black-shouldered Kite hunts rats and lizards from mid-level perches in open country. With the same red eyes they can watch for prey in dark, shady areas or very late in the afternoon. Kites have pointed wings not unlike falcons, but their flight is slow and deliberate, diving feet first.


From the front they are a real “white kite.”

From the front they are a real “white kite.”


These are obviously similar to our white-tailed, but more stocky, and shallow on the wing-beat. The broad tail helps birds with wind or thermals, and the red eyes peer into dark spots for meals. Including those in Africa and South America, this bird, with all its species, covers much of the World’s area.

These are obviously similar to our white-tailed, but more stocky, and shallow on the wing-beat. The broad tail helps birds with wind or thermals, and the red eyes peer into dark spots for meals. Including those in Africa and South America, this bird, with all its species, covers much of the World’s area.


Young Black-shouldered Kites are buffy, like many young hawks, but being birds of prey, they attract a lot of attention. Willie Wagtail (don’t make fun of them!) doesn’t care for raptors and they often leave the ground and harass hawks until they rid the area of them. Do you think Little Willie would dare touch this mighty raptor?

Young Black-shouldered Kites are buffy, like many young hawks, but being birds of
prey, they attract a lot of attention. Willie Wagtail (don’t make fun of them!) doesn’t care for raptors and they often leave the ground and harass hawks until they rid the area of them. Do you think Little Willie would dare touch this mighty raptor?


Uh, yes.	 Willie Wagtail	 1 Chicken Hawk	0 (young Black-shouldered Kite)

Uh, yes.
Willie Wagtail
1
Chicken Hawk 0
(young Black-shouldered Kite)


A scarce hawk (and hard bird to show a guide’s clients!) is the Square-tailed Kite. This one dropped in down in the coastal plain, not common for this Tableland species. Note the whitish face and long wings, both typical of this bird. They have thicker wings than the abundant Whistling and Black Kites, allowing them to catch more thermals.

A scarce hawk (and hard bird to show a guide’s clients!) is the Square-tailed Kite. This one dropped in down in the coastal plain, not common for this Tableland species. Note the whitish face and long wings, both typical of this bird. They have thicker wings than the abundant Whistling and Black Kites, allowing them to catch more thermals.


Young square-tails are browner, a common color for immature raptors.

Young square-tails are browner, a common color for immature raptors.


Black Kites are very numerous in the Outback and roost together in large numbers. Here is a roost starting at around 5 pm. It is a curious thing how so many dead Whistling Kites are on the roads but very few Blacks. They are easily separated by the deep fork in the tail of these Black Kites.

Black Kites are very numerous in the Outback and roost together in large numbers. Here is a roost starting at around 5 pm. It is a curious thing how so many dead Whistling Kites are on the roads but very few Blacks. They are easily separated by the deep fork in the tail of these Black Kites.


Black Kites are very dark with a slightly whitish face, a bit like the previous bird. They can be extremely common in many areas, often in flocks of several dozen. You can see the wings are not longer than the tail, whereas the previous kite’s wings are much longer. Black Kites are also found in other areas, such as Africa.

Black Kites are very dark with a slightly whitish face, a bit like the previous bird. They can be extremely common in many areas, often in flocks of several dozen. You can see the wings are not longer than the tail, whereas the previous kite’s wings are much longer. Black Kites are also found in other areas, such as Africa.


A very common raptor is the poor Whistling Kite, who becomes road pizza at a frequent rate as it flocks to carrion itself. For some reason, Black Kites are either more wary or smarter! They are so common I forgot to shoot a flying bird for you, and only popped this one today because it dared me to! Even the adults are brown (ugly) and tame.

A very common raptor is the poor Whistling Kite, who becomes road pizza at a frequent rate as it flocks to carrion itself. For some reason, Black Kites are either more wary or smarter! They are so common I forgot to shoot a flying bird for you, and only popped this one today because it dared me to! Even the adults are brown (ugly) and tame.


A real beauty is the Brahminy Kite, with a garnet mantle and white head. They are found around the lowlands near the coast of the northern half of Australia, and regions closer to the Equator as well. Their diet includes a plethora of vertebrates but snakes and lizards are high on the list

A real beauty is the Brahminy Kite, with a garnet mantle and white head. They are found around the lowlands near the coast of the northern half of Australia, and regions closer to the Equator as well. Their diet includes a plethora of vertebrates but snakes and lizards are high on the list


Brahminy Kites love the coastal regions and are often seen in mangroves. I believe their biology might be similar to the M angrove Black-hawks along the coasts of Central and South America, though they hardly resemble each other. These birds have a very large range well up toward Asia and Indian Ocean islands.

Brahminy Kites love the coastal regions and are often seen in mangroves. I believe their biology might be similar to the M angrove Black-hawks along the coasts of Central and South America, though they hardly resemble each other. These birds have a very large range well up toward Asia and Indian Ocean islands.


The Australian Hobby is a small falcon found in sparse areas, terrorizing the small bird population. This dark morph lives in forested areas while a pale morph inhabits the dry regions, with all kinds of deserts. You can easily see the dark face and large, block head of many of the earth’s falcons

The Australian Hobby is a small falcon found in sparse areas, terrorizing the small bird population. This dark morph lives in forested areas while a pale morph inhabits the dry regions, with all kinds of deserts. You can easily see the dark face and large, block head of many of the earth’s falcons


By far the most abundant falcon in Australia is the Brown Falcon, a near-Peregrine-sized bird with a dark chocolate plumage. They are denizens of open areas (like most falcons) so they can use their speed to chase down prey – usually birds. They are one of the many Australian species to have great variability in plumage.

By far the most abundant falcon in Australia is the Brown Falcon, a near-Peregrine-sized bird with a dark chocolate plumage. They are denizens of open areas (like most falcons) so they can use their speed to chase down prey – usually birds. They are one of the many Australian species to have great variability in plumage.


Brown Falcons are highly variable, as are many Australian birds.

Brown Falcons are highly variable, as are many Australian birds.


Boom; gotcha. Note the wingtips are not a pointed as some falcons, better for soaring but not as great for diving on prey. Also note the dark areas around the eye, a fairly common field mark for many falcons around the World. What you may not know is the disproportionately large feet for a falcon, enabling them to take larger prey items in the Outback.

Boom; gotcha.
Note the wingtips are not a pointed as some falcons, better for soaring but not as great for diving on prey. Also note the dark areas around the eye, a fairly common field mark for many falcons around the World. What you may not know is the disproportionately large feet for a falcon, enabling them to take larger prey items in the Outback.


Black Falcons are very dark and scarce; out on the deserts of the Outback. One very curious thing about them is that the juvenile plumage persists for nearly a decade, as they really need someone to tell them to grow up! They usually live in some of the remotest deserts and many Aussie birders have never seen them. There is overlap in many aspect of their appearance, and many birders would call this a Brown Falcon.

Black Falcons are very dark and scarce; out on the deserts of the Outback. One very curious thing about them is that the juvenile plumage persists for nearly a decade, as they really need someone to tell them to grow up! They usually live in some of the remotest deserts and many Aussie birders have never seen them. There is overlap in many aspect of their appearance, and many birders would call this a Brown Falcon.


I’m sure you recognize this as the form of an accipiter, often the last thing a bird sees alive. The rounded wings and long tail IDs it as one of these bird-eating hawks, much like our Cooper’s Hawk. This species is the Brown Goshawk, with a shape not unlike our Cooper’s. They are larger than the Sparrowhawk, the sharpie of Australia.

I’m sure you recognize this as the form of an accipiter, often the last thing a bird sees alive. The rounded wings and long tail IDs it as one of these bird-eating hawks, much like our Cooper’s Hawk. This species is the Brown Goshawk, with a shape not unlike our Cooper’s. They are larger than the Sparrowhawk, the sharpie of Australia.


This juvenile Collared Sparrowhawk has many friends in the forest, especially around Kakadu National Park. They dine on the songbird population and fly with the same lightning-fast bursts as our sharpies. If you’re interested, compare the wingshape of this species with the previous accipiter, and you can see the difference.

This juvenile Collared Sparrowhawk has many friends in the forest, especially around Kakadu National Park. They dine on the songbird population and fly with the same lightning-fast bursts as our sharpies. If you’re interested, compare the wingshape of this species with the previous accipiter, and you can see the difference.


A fine bird to photograph is the Gray Goshawk, a scarce bird of open areas. They may seem odd but they also have a pure white morph that we actually saw! These birds were nesting in a forest reserve north of Townsville and were a delight to see – along with Bazas. Like all accipiters, birds are an easy kill.

A fine bird to photograph is the Gray Goshawk, a scarce bird of open areas. They may seem odd but they also have a pure white morph that we actually saw! These birds were nesting in a forest reserve north of Townsville and were a delight to see – along with Bazas. Like all accipiters, birds are an easy kill.


Black-breasted Buzzards are rare hawks of the Outback, and they have an amazing secret few people know. They eat eggs, and even ones too large for the largest birds to crack. When they find an egg like this Emu egg, they will lay it in the open, find a rock, and bash it as hard as they can, breaking open the egg! I can’t believe I got to see this! BTW, “buzzard” means hawk in the Old World.

Black-breasted Buzzards are rare hawks of the Outback, and they have an amazing secret few people know. They eat eggs, and even ones too large for the largest birds to crack. When they find an egg like this Emu egg, they will lay it in the open, find a rock, and bash it as hard as they can, breaking open the egg! I can’t believe I got to see this!
BTW, “buzzard” means hawk in the Old World.


Ospreys are all over the World, but this Australian one is a separate species – the Eastern Osprey. Don’t tell me how to tell them apart (none of ours here) but I always accept life birds generously. And as you can see, their nests are like ours, and they also begin the breeding season in late winter, just like ours.

Ospreys are all over the World, but this Australian one is a separate species – the Eastern Osprey. Don’t tell me how to tell them apart (none of ours here) but I always accept life birds generously. And as you can see, their nests are like ours, and they also begin the breeding season in late winter, just like ours.


This Eastern Osprey is tearing up the last bits of a fish meal, and their species is the only raptor that feeds exclusively on fish (except for the wildest exceptions). An amazing fact is why so many raptors and other piscine predators have white heads- it ’s because whit e doesn’t cause a refle ct ion in t he wat er so the avian predator can see the fish under the surface.* Think of all the fish-eating avian predators with white heads! * I suspect it’s also the fact that their white head blends with the sky.

This Eastern Osprey is tearing up the last bits of a fish meal, and their species is the only raptor that feeds exclusively on fish (except for the wildest exceptions). An amazing fact is why so many raptors and other piscine predators have white heads- it ’s because whit e doesn’t cause a refle ct ion in t he wat er so the avian predator can see the fish under the surface.* Think of all the fish-eating avian predators with white heads!
* I suspect it’s also the fact that their white head blends with the sky.


An uncommon and not well-known raptor of Australia is a Little Eagle. Very few eagles are dichromatic (dimorphic), meaning they have two color possibilities that have nothing to do with age (they have that as well). This is the light morph, told easily be the three lines of contrasting color across the secondaries. Very few birds have that!

An uncommon and not well-known raptor of Australia is a Little Eagle. Very few eagles are dichromatic (dimorphic), meaning they have two color possibilities that have nothing to do with age (they have that as well). This is the light morph, told easily be the three lines of contrasting color across the secondaries. Very few birds have that!


This Little Eagle was kind enough to fly near a Black Kite and show us the diminutive size for its “eagle” species. When learning raptors, it is very important to notice length and shape of wings and tail, and the width of the wings. Go ahead! The kite (below) has a longer, forked tail, narrower and longer wings and uses wind more than the eagle, who probably used thermals more than the slender kite.

This Little Eagle was kind enough to fly near a Black Kite and show us the diminutive size for its “eagle” species. When learning raptors, it is very important to notice length and shape of wings and tail, and the width of the wings. Go ahead! The kite (below) has a longer, forked tail, narrower and longer wings and uses wind more than the eagle, who
probably used thermals more than the slender kite.


These are two Wedge-tailed Eagles, and because I am an ornithologist, I could make out the right one screaming, “How long are we gonna stand on this hot pavement?” This is the inland species of eagle in Australia, a close relative of our widely-scattered Golden Eagle. There are actually several species of the genus Aquila in the World.

These are two Wedge-tailed Eagles, and because I am an ornithologist, I could make out the right one screaming, “How long are we gonna stand on this hot pavement?” This is the inland species of eagle in Australia, a close relative of our widely-scattered Golden Eagle. There are actually several species of the genus Aquila in the World.


You westerners can see the resemblance to a Golden now, but with less white in the wedge-shaped tail. This is a large, powerful raptor that has a history of taking small wallabies and even young kangaroo. Sadly, with all the traffic through the Outback, many are killed while feasting on dead mammals along the roadside.

You westerners can see the resemblance to a Golden now, but with less white in the wedge-shaped tail. This is a large, powerful raptor that has a history of taking small wallabies and even young kangaroo. Sadly, with all the traffic through the Outback, many are killed while feasting on dead mammals along the roadside.


Here you can see the wedge-shaped tail, on a young bird still with barring on the tail. They are darker than our Golden Eagle, as they lack the white patches our Aquila has. They also fly with their wings less “up” than the sea eagle (next), while our Bald and Golden Eagles both fly with flat wings. That said, I have seen Goldens on occasion that I’d swear were flying a bit dihedral, though Dan Gibson says I’m crazy.

Here you can see the wedge-shaped tail, on a young bird still with barring on the tail. They are darker than our Golden Eagle, as they lack the white patches our Aquila has. They also fly with their wings less “up” than the sea eagle (next), while our Bald and Golden Eagles both fly with flat wings. That said, I have seen Goldens on occasion that I’d swear were flying a bit dihedral, though Dan Gibson says I’m crazy.


For a large bird, wedgies can move pretty fast using gravity. I’m not sure what this big female was stooping at, but she covered a fair portion of the sky in a small amount of time. You might have noticed that they have feathered tarsi (like our Golden), unlike the eagles drawn to water, like…

For a large bird, wedgies can move pretty fast using gravity. I’m not sure what this big female was stooping at, but she covered a fair portion of the sky in a small amount of time. You might have noticed that they have feathered tarsi (like our Golden), unlike the eagles drawn to water, like…


The White-bellied Sea-Eagle, the dominant force around air above Aussie waters. Bare tarsi means no wet feathers, which cuts down on weight as the bird hauls off the large fish it snatched off the water’s surface. They have a white head to peer into the water better and dihedral wings to utilize winds more than thermals.

The White-bellied Sea-Eagle, the dominant force around air above Aussie waters. Bare tarsi means no wet feathers, which cuts down on weight as the bird hauls off the large fish it snatched off the water’s surface. They have a white head to peer into the water better and dihedral wings to utilize winds more than thermals.


Here’s a pair of White-bellied Sea-Eagles discussing love and marriage. The larger female is on the left, like so many American couples, politically. ;)

Here’s a pair of White-bellied Sea-Eagles discussing love and marriage. The larger female is on the left, like so many American couples, politically. 😉


Here comes Junior, racing in to find out what’s new. Like Bald Eagles, young are brown and camouflaged in trees. This is a curious bird, with a pointed tail, almost like a wedgie. The broad wings help lift a fish off the water’s surface, although Ospreys actually have more lift power for their weight than any bird of prey.

Here comes Junior, racing in to find out what’s new. Like Bald Eagles, young are brown and camouflaged in trees. This is a curious bird, with a pointed tail, almost like a wedgie. The broad wings help lift a fish off the water’s surface, although Ospreys actually have more lift power for their weight than any bird of prey.


The Eastern Barn Owl is seldom caught out in the open, but luck was on my side. The heart-shaped face indicates birds in the Barn Owl family, while rounded faces are more like the larger family represented by horned and Barred Owls (and many more). These birds (above) have ears at two different levels to help them locate the sound of small prey items in the dark.

The Eastern Barn Owl is seldom caught out in the open, but luck was on my side. The heart-shaped face indicates birds in the Barn Owl family, while rounded faces are more like the larger family represented by horned and Barred Owls (and many more). These birds (above) have ears at two different levels to help them locate the sound of small prey items in the dark.

(published 8/12/2014)

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