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Movements and Genetics of Grey Falcons |
| Falco hypoleucos Gould, 1841. |
| ID hints |
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Grey Falcon adult Falco hypoleucos, central southern Queensland, June. Photo © Richard Fuller. |
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Identifying raptors in the field can be challenging, especially when light is poor, viewing angles are less than desirable, and encounters are brief. Typically however, all three come together.
Richard Fuller's wonderful shot (above) is one of a series. It would be quite ambitious to identify the bird by that one photo, let alone if the observed had only caught a glimpse like that. |
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Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus. Photo © Kay Parkin. |
| A Brown Goshawk; Gluepot Reserve, South Australia, November. Compare the typical field marks of Grey Falcon in the photo below: |
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Grey Falcon adult Falco hypoleucos, SW Queensland, October. Photo © Jonny Schoenjahn. |
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In flight, Grey Falcons have broad wings that are broadest at the base, a solid body, and a comparatively short tail with no distinct terminal or sub-terminal band. All in all the species has a rather stocky appearance. Black wingtips are an obvious feature from above, even under poor viewing conditions; see Richard Fuller's photo at the top of this page. From below however, black wingtips may not be discernible at all, as Chris Field's stunning shot proves: |
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Grey Falcon adult Falco hypoleucos, central southern Queensland, November. Photo © Chris Field. |
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For a broader discussion of identification hints, please see Schoenjahn, J. (2010). Field identification of the Grey Falcon Falco hypoleucos. Australian Field Ornithology 27: 49-58. Available from the BOCA website |
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