Grey Falcon

Taxobox
name = Grey Falcon
status = NT | status_system = IUCN3.1


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Falconiformes
familia = Falconidae
genus = "Falco"
genus_authority =
species = "F. hypoleucos"
binomial = "Falco hypoleucos"
binomial_authority = Gould, 1841

The Grey Falcon, "Falco hypoleucos", is a rare medium-sized falcon, one of the enigmatic ‘mystery’ birds of Australia, neither easily nor predictably seen.

Description

Mainly grey upperparts and white underparts; darker on the tips of the flight feathers; yellow cere. Body length 30-45 cm; wingspan 85-95 cm; weight 350-600 g. Females larger.

Distribution and habitat

The Grey Falcon is an Australian endemic, usually confined to the arid inland. Open country: "Triodia" grassland, "Acacia" shrubland, and lightly timbered arid woodland.

Conservation

It is found at very low densities, numbering only 1,000 breeding pairs, and the population may be stable. Continued high levels of grazing in arid zone rangelands and clearance of the semi-arid zone for marginal farming is degrading habitat.

International

It is considered to be Near Threatened. Listed on CITES Appendix II.

Australia

Grey Falcon are not listed as threatened on the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

tate of Victoria, Australia

* The Grey Falcon is listed as threatened on the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988). [ [http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenpa.nsf/LinkView/EADA0F1874AF9CF24A2567C1001020A388BBA5581CF9D859CA256BB300271BDB Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria] ] Under this Act, an "Action Statement" for the recovery and future management of this species has been prepared. [ [http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenpa.nsf/LinkView/617768308BCB666E4A25684E00192281E7A24BB36FF60A144A256DEA00244294 Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria] ]

* On the 2007 advisory list of threatened vertebrate fauna in Victoria, The Grey Falcon is listed as endangered.cite book | author = Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment | title = Advisory List of Threatened VertebrateFauna in Victoria - 2007 | publisher = Department of Sustainability and Environment | date = 2007 | location = East Melbourne, Victoria | pages = 15 | url = | id = ISBN 978-1-74208-039-0 ]

Behaviour

Diet

Mainly birds, especially parrots; also small mammals, reptiles and insects.

Nesting

Nests in trees, utilising stick nests of other species. Clutch size 2-3.

References

* BirdLife International. (2006). Species factsheet: "Falco hypoleucos". Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/12/2006
* Marchant, S.; & Higgins, P.J. (Eds). (1993). "Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Vol,2: Raptors to Lapwings". Oxford University Press: Melbourne. ISBN 0-19-553069-1

External links

* [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/8459/summ IUCN Red List]