The black falcon ( Falco subniger ) is a medium-large falcon that is endemic to Australia .
VIC: Vulnerable; WA: Rare; NT: Critically Endangered
Endemic to Australia
Indigenous: Wandhala
At a glance
FamilyFalcons and Caracaras
SizeLarge
RarityCommon
Habitatsparse woodland, grassland, herbaceous graminoids sparse hummock grasses, and open woodland
Best timeMost reliable in Victoria from January to April.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Marc Anderson
Range map
Range map
3762visible hotspots
17457visible records
5states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
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
Often confused with darker individuals of Brown Falcon, a species with larger, blocky head, unfeathered legs, less pointed wings, and more pronounced tear-drop mark below the eye.
Behavior
Favors open environments, where it is an aggressive aerial hunter, frequently observed in rapid pursuit of birds.
Gallery
Regional timing
Western Australia
New South Wales
Queensland
South Australia
Northern Territory
Victoria
Australian Capital Territory
Commonly confused with
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusAlways look for a grayish back in adults, long wings that almost reach the tail tip, and powerful but slender build. Dark mark below each eye varies in shape and size. Juveniles are more heavily patterned below than adults, and can be quite brownish above. Patterning varies considerably across a wide global range, with back color ranging from pale gray in Central Asian “Red-capped” to slaty-blue across much of northern Eurasia North America, to almost black in Asian “Shaheen.” Chases prey down at high speeds with continuous powerful wingbeats.→Brown FalconFalco berigoraAll have a dark moustache mark, long unfeathered lower legs, and a finely barred tail. Take care to identify dark birds from Black Falcon, which has feathered legs, and a more angular heavy-shouldered appearance. When gliding holds its wingtips up.→Australian HobbyFalco longipennisCompare this bird carefully in the field→