Connecting Country24th August 2020

Geoff Park

Tricky birds of central Victoria - raptors

It’s a hawk!

What is a raptor?

• Birds of prey, also known as raptors, are birds that hunt or feed on other animals

• The term "raptor" is derived from the Latin word rapere (meaning to seize or take by force)

• Raptors have keen vision that allows them to detect prey during flight and powerful talons and beaks. In most cases, the females are larger than the males.

In ornithology, the term raptor, refers to the following families:

Diurnal birds of prey

• Accipitridae: hawks, eagles, buzzards, harriers, kites and Old World vultures

• Pandionidae: the osprey• Sagittariidae: the secretary bird• Falconidae: falcons and caracaras

Nocturnal birds of prey

• Strigidae: typical owls• Tytonidae: barn owls

Because of their predatory nature they face distinct conservation concerns.

Accipitridae – kites, eagles, harriers and goshawks

• Black-shouldered Kite• Square-tailed Kite• White-bellied Sea-Eagle• Whistling Kite• Black Kite• Brown Goshawk• Collared Sparrowhawk• Spotted Harrier• Swamp Harrier• Wedge-tailed Eagle• Little Eagle

Falconidae - falcons

• Nankeen Kestrel• Brown Falcon• Australian Hobby• Black Falcon• Peregrine Falcon

16 of the 24 Australian mainland raptors can be found regularly in

central Victoria

… with two others possible, the Letter-winged Kite and Grey

Goshawk

(Australian Birds of Prey in Flight Photographic Guide By: Richard Seaton, Mat Gilfedder and Stephen Debus)

Identifying raptors … my top three tips

1. Acquire a ‘top notch’ field guide

2. Spend time in the field

3. Learn the ‘spotting characteristics’ for your target species

These are not raptors … nor are they owls!

Raptor ID tips

In flight

• Overall body shape• Shape of wings and tail• Flight style

Raptor ID tips

When perched• Plumage colours, patterns, markings• Profile• Special features

Whistling Kite• Underwing pattern• ‘Fingered’ wings• Long, rounded tail

Black Kite• Forked tail• Slim body• Lazy, slow flight• Often in small flocks

Whistling Kite (juvenile)• Spotted upper-parts

Little Eagle• Small, compact eagle• Distinctive

underwing pattern• Short, squarish tail

Wedge-tailed Eagle• It’s massive!• Long-wedge-shaped tail• Plumage colour varies with

age

Brown Goshawk• Long-rounded tail• ‘Beetle-brow’• Robust legs

Female goshawk > male goshawk ~ Female sparrowhawk > male

sparrowhawk

Juveniles of both are very different to adults

Collared Sparrowhawk• Long, square tail• Elongated middle toe• Brow-ridges not as

prominent

Nankeen Kestrel• Rich-rufous upperparts• Sub-terminal tail band• Typical falcon profile

Brown Falcon• Distinctive malar stripe • Wing and tail feathers usually

strongly barred• Lumbering flight

Black Falcon• Small-headed … may have semblance

of falcon ‘hood’• Tail projects beyond folded wings• Swift, powerful flight – often low level

Habitat

Raptor ID dilemmas #1 Brown Falcon v. Black Falcon

Raptor ID dilemmas #1 Brown Falcon v. Black Falcon

Raptor ID dilemmas #2 Brown Goshawk v. Collared Sparrowhawk

Raptor ID dilemmas #2 Brown Goshawk v. Collared Sparrowhawk

Raptor ID dilemmas #3 Whistling Kite v. Little Eagle

Raptor ID dilemmas #3 Whistling Kite v. Little Eagle

Raptor ID dilemmas #4 Spotted Harrier v. Swamp Harrier

Black-shouldered Kite

Square-tailed Kites , Newstead January 2012Photograph by Patrick Kavanagh

White-bellied Sea-eagle - immature

Thanks for listening!