Habitat: Grey falcon (Falco hypoleucos) is found on the timbered plains of the dry interior. It is one of Australia’s rarest raptors. Singly or in pairs, they work mainly along eucalypt-lined river channels, perching motionless in the shelter of tree branches looking about, or flapping easily along. Grey falcon is uncommon throughout its range and classified as vulnerable.
Flight: They may circle slowly in flight, soaring with fanned tails, but they move at great speed when hunting.
Diet: Most of their prey—birds, small mammals, reptiles, and insects—is snatched in surprise from the ground. Larger birds are swooped upon in midair.
Size: male 340 mm; female 430 mm in length, with a wingspan of 85–95 cm and a weight of 350–600 grams.
Identification: Both adults are similar. Upper parts pale blue-grey with faint black shaft streaks; tail feathers barred darker grey. Primaries have black tips. The face and underparts are gray-white with thin, dark, shaft streaks and an inconspicuous dark streak below the eye. Eyes are brown. The bill is dark gray; the eyering and cere are bright yellow. The feet are yellow; the claws are black. The immature birds are darker grey than adults on the upper parts. Head dark grey with a more conspicuous dark streak below the eye; underparts with thicker dark streaks. Gere and eye-ring blue-grey. The feet are dull yellow. The downy young are white.
Vocalizations: The grey falcon call is a rapidly repeated key in agitation; it is also a cluck-cluck, probably in contact.
Nesting and Breeding: It occurs in July-November. Lines of old nests of another species of hawk or crow with animal hair or bark. Nests are poorly defended, the adults doing little more than flapping slowly around the nest tree. Although, in usual falcon fashion, the female broods and cares for the young while the male hunts, he may relieve her on the nest when she leaves to eat prey he has brought. Not only will he brood then, but he will also feed the young. As young adults, both parents share hunting. After fledging, young falcons may stay with their parents for another six or more months before dispersing.
Eggs: This beautiful falcon lays three to four, usually three; pink-buff heavily spotted with red-brown; blunt-oval, about 51 x 3 7 mm. Incubation: 32–35 days, by female. Young fledge in 42–45 days.
Distribution: Grey falcon is found in the lightly timbered plains of mainland Australia. Occasionally, it is seen farther east and southwest than indicated on the map. Nomadic. Grey Falcon inhabits Triodia grassland, Acacia shrubland, and informally timbered arid woodland.
Races: There are no races.
