Nature conservation

Threatened species

Black Falcon - profile

Indicative distribution


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known
predicted
The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Falco subniger
Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable
Commonwealth status: Not listed
Gazetted date: 12 Apr 2013
Profile last updated: 18 Oct 2022

Description

The Black Falcon Falco subniger G.R. Gray 1843 (family Falconidae), is a large (45-55 cm in length), very dark falcon with pale grey cere, eye-rings and feet. It is uniformly dark brown to sooty black, with a pale throat and an indistinct black streak below each eye. Some individuals have faint, narrow barring under the wings and tail. The dark form of the Brown Falcon Falco berigora is sometimes mistaken for the Black Falcon. However the Brown Falcon can be distinguished by its double cheek-mark, longer legs, bicoloured, barred underwings and comparatively slow flight (Debus 1998).

Distribution

The Black Falcon is widely, but sparsely, distributed in New South Wales, mostly occurring in inland regions. Some reports of ‘Black Falcons’ on the tablelands and coast of New South Wales are likely to be referable to the Brown Falcon. In New South Wales there is assumed to be a single population that is continuous with a broader continental population, given that falcons are highly mobile, commonly travelling hundreds of kilometres (Marchant & Higgins 1993). The Black Falcon occurs as solitary individuals, in pairs, or in family groups of parents and offspring.

Regional distribution and habitat

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Threats

Recovery strategies

IBRA Bioregion IBRA Subregion Known or predicted Geographic restrictions region