FALCON VS HAWK PICTURES WINDOWS

New Zealand falcons likely benefit from the predator control done by DOC around the country.ĭOC advocates for New Zealand falcon conservation through the Resource Management Act (RMA) process, in particular in the context of wind farm development.ĭOC has supported a genetic analysis to better understand any differences between Bush, Eastern and Southern falcons. The construction of wind farms in New Zealand falcon habitat may expose it to similar risks. High mortality rates have been reported for some birds of prey at several overseas wind farms due to collision with the rotating turbine blades. Recently a new threat to New Zealand falcons has emerged in the form of wind farms.

Like many birds of prey overseas, New Zealand falcons are also threatened by electrocution on power poles containing transformers.ĭespite their fully protected status, New Zealand falcons are still illegally shot by people, particularly when falcons occasionally kill racing pigeons or chickens. Tussock grassland and grey scrub habitats being converted to pasture also reduces nesting and prey habitat. Continued selective logging of such trees reduced available nesting habitat.

Play video in QuickTime (MOV, 2563K, 29 seconds)įorest dwelling falcons often nest in emergent rimu and other large forest trees.

FALCON VS HAWK PICTURES WINDOWS

Play video in Windows Media Player (WMV, 697K, 29 seconds).The cat spent 10 hours in the nest and killed both chicks. This shows that falcons are not necessarily able to successfully defend the nest (at least against cats which are thought to be important predators) despite being capable predators themselves. The mother twice tries to drive off the cat but is unsuccessful. The other chick stays in the nest while this is happening. The video shows a wild cat entering a New Zealand falcon nest. A recent study suggests that adult falcons are less able to defend their nest from predators that previously thought.

It is likely that stoats and other mustelids prey on eggs and nestlings in ground and tree nests, and rats may do the same. PredationĪlthough still widespread where suitable habitat exists, numbers have declined and predation by cats, mustelids, and hedgehogs is emerging as a problem for ground nesting falcons. Threats to the New Zealand falcon are not well understood.Īll three forms of New Zealand falcon (Southern, Eastern and Bush) are ranked as threatened due to population declines and uncertainty in the overall population sizes. Nestlings are fed by both parents but the male does most of the hunting with the female guarding close to the nest until the nestlings are close to fledging, which occurs between 31 and 45 days after hatching. Rather, it makes a scrape on the ground, under a rocky outcrop or in an epiphyte in an emergent forest tree into which it lays its eggs.Ī typical clutch consists of 2–4 eggs which take about 33 days to hatch. Like all falcons, the New Zealand falcon does not build a nest. Their diet includes a range of animals, including insects, mammals and lizards, but consists mainly of birds. They kill their prey with a quick powerful bite to the neck. They hunt live prey, mainly by watching from a vantage point and making a fast direct flying attack and either striking or grasping the prey with their feet which are equipped with sharp talons.

The New Zealand falcon is capable of flying at speeds of up to 200 km/h, and can catch prey larger than itself. Males weigh between 240 g and 350 g, while females weigh between 410 g and 720 g. 'Southern' falcons are intermediate in size and colouration and live in Fiordland, Stewart Island and the Auckland Islands.Īdult New Zealand falcons measure between 40 cm and 50 cm. Large paler 'Eastern' falcons live in open dryer habitats east of the Southern Alps but extend from coast to coast in central South Island. They are found in the North Island, mainly south of Hamilton and NW South Island as far south as Greymouth.

The small dark ‘Bush’ falcons live in forests. The highest known density of the species is found in Kaingaroa pine forest in the central North Island. Recently, plantation pine forests have been found to be important breeding habitats for falcons. The falcon has a wide distribution, being found on both the North and South Islands and several offshore islands, including Stewart Island and the subantarctic Auckland Islands. One of 38 species of falcon worldwide, the New Zealand falcon is endemic to this country.

Falcon vs hawk pictures