Grey falcon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grey falcon |
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| Conservation status | |
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Falco
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| Species: |
hypoleucos
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The grey falcon (Falco hypoleucos) is a medium-sized bird of prey that lives only in Australia. It's one of the rarest falcons in the world. Because there are so few of them, it is currently listed as a vulnerable animal. This means it needs special protection to survive.
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Naming the Grey Falcon
The grey falcon was first officially described by a scientist named John Gould in 1841. He based his description on a bird given to him by John Gilbert. Gilbert had received the bird from Lockier Burges in York, Western Australia.
Gould published his description in a book called Birds of Australia. His wife, Elizabeth Gould, drew a beautiful picture of the falcon for the book. The scientific name hypoleucos comes from ancient Greek words meaning 'beneath' and 'white'. This describes the falcon's whitish underside.
What the Grey Falcon Looks Like
Grey falcons have mostly grey feathers on their backs and wings. Their undersides are white. The tips of their flight feathers are a bit darker. They also have a yellow area around their beak called a cere. Young falcons are usually darker than adults.
Adult grey falcons are about 30 to 45 centimeters (12-18 inches) long. Their wings can spread out to 85 to 95 centimeters (33-37 inches) wide. They weigh between 350 and 600 grams (about 0.7 to 1.3 pounds). Female falcons are usually bigger than males.
Their calls sound like harsh chattering, clucking, and whining. It's similar to the peregrine falcon's call but slower and deeper. You might hear a loud, slow "kek-kek-kek" or "kak-ak-ak-ak."
One collector, John Gilbert, was very impressed by this bird's beauty. He wrote in a letter,
I assure you I never gazed with more delight on any Specimen I ever Shot, than on this Bird, as it lay in the grass, throwing up its feet to prevent my hand reaching it.
Where Grey Falcons Live
The grey falcon lives only in Australia, mostly in the dry inland areas. They like to live in areas with Triodia grassland (also called spinifex), Acacia shrubland, and open woodlands.
They have been seen across most of mainland Australia. However, they are rarely seen in the very dry deserts like the Nullarbor Plain. Most sightings happen in places that get less than 500 millimeters (20 inches) of rain each year. When they are seen outside these dry areas, it's usually in similar open woodlands or grasslands.
Sometimes, during very dry years, they have been spotted along the coast of Queensland. Grey falcons are often seen in small family groups. These groups usually include an adult pair and one to four young birds.
The grey falcon is one of the rarest falcons in the world. It might even be the rarest falcon in Australia.
Grey Falcon Habits
What They Eat
When people see grey falcons, they are often hunting. These falcons like to eat their prey on the ground in open areas. They are also often seen near inland water bores, which makes them easier to watch.
Most of the time, grey falcons eat other birds (about 88% of their diet). They also eat small mammals (6%), reptiles (5%), and insects like locusts (1%). The birds they hunt often live in flocks and feed on the ground. These include parrots and pigeons, which are common in dry areas.
Grey falcons have been seen eating various animals. These include mallee ringneck parrots, ducks, yellow-rumped thornbills, locusts, snakes, mice, and young rabbits. One falcon was even seen chasing a bat!
Reproduction and Nesting
Grey falcons breed once a year. However, they might nest twice in years with lots of food. They might not nest at all during very dry times. Their breeding areas have become smaller recently, now mostly in the driest parts of their range.
They usually don't build their own nests. Instead, they use abandoned stick nests built by other birds of prey. These nests are often found in the top branches of tall trees. These trees are usually in patches or lines of timber along dry riverbeds in inland areas.
A pair of falcons might use the same nest for several years. In the southern parts of Australia, they nest from July to October. In the north, they nest from April to June. Grey falcon eggs look a lot like the eggs of the black falcon (Falco subniger), but they are a bit smaller. A female usually lays two or three eggs, but sometimes four. The eggs are oval-shaped and average about 51 by 38 millimeters (2 by 1.5 inches).
Protecting the Grey Falcon
There are not many grey falcons, with only about 1,000 breeding pairs. However, their population seems to be staying steady. One of the biggest threats to them is the loss of their habitat. This happens because of too much grazing by livestock in dry areas. Also, land is cleared for farming in semi-dry regions.
The good news is that grey falcons live in several protected areas. One example is Sturt National Park. Scientists have studied the falcon's DNA and found that they have low genetic diversity. This means they can be managed as one group to help protect them.
Conservation Status
International Status
The grey falcon was once listed as "near-threatened." But in 2012, its status was changed to Vulnerable. It is also listed on CITES Appendix II, which means international trade of this species is controlled.
Australian National Status
The grey falcon is listed as endangered under Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
State Status in Australia
- Victoria: The grey falcon is listed as threatened under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988). An action plan has been made to help this species recover. It is also listed as endangered on Victoria's 2007 advisory list of threatened animals.
- Queensland: The grey falcon is listed as rare under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
- Western Australia: The grey falcon is listed as rare or likely to become extinct under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950.
- New South Wales: The grey falcon is listed as endangered under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.
See also
In Spanish: Halcón gris para niños
