/
Small and delicate raptor with warm-brown upper parts, pale underparts, and a dark tail band.
Not listed
Endemic to Australia
Indigenous: Wala
At a glance
FamilyFalcons and Caracaras
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
HabitatOpen country, coast, woodland edge, river corridors, and thermal-rich skies over fields or ridgelines.
Best timeReported across most months in New South Wales, with no narrow seasonal peak.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Marc Anderson
Range map
Range map
17588visible hotspots
282698visible records
5states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Adult male has gray head; female more rust-colored.
Behavior
Often hovers in one spot searching for a variety of prey including insects and rodents. Common in farm-dominated areas and grasslands.
Gallery