Falco longipennis

Australian Hobby at Ainslie, ACT

Falco longipennis at Ainslie, ACT - 24 Jul 2022
Falco longipennis at Ainslie, ACT - 24 Jul 2022
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Identification history

Falco longipennis 24 Jul 2022 Liam.m
Falco berigora 24 Jul 2022 cmobbs

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User's notes

Have previously reported large stick nest (perhaps >1m diameter) on top platform of telco tower at end of Phillip Avenue, Hackett. Today I saw its possible builder - maybe a brown falcon - sitting on rail near the nest. Phone camera unable to close enough. Through binoculars I could see its brown back, and then face - definitely small bird of prey with its hooked bill. Someone with a telescopic lens on camera would get a better pic than the one I have uploaded

3 comments

Liam.m wrote:
   24 Jul 2022
Brown falcons are quite a large bird, this one looks like a hobby
   25 Jul 2022
I agree that this looks more like a Hobby than Brown Falcon. Just on the issue of the construction of the nest, here is some information from BirdLife Australia on the Australian Hobby: "Always using the stick nests of other species—especially crows and ravens, Whistling Kites and Australian Magpies—Australian Hobbies use the nests as they find them, and seldom, if ever, add nesting material to a nest to repair it or reline its interior." Also, the Brown Falcon usually uses the nest of other hawk species, but may build its own stick nest in a tree. I would suggest the nest in your photo was most likely built by a magpie or raven.
cmobbs wrote:
   25 Jul 2022
Thank you for your correction of the species
In regards to the nest size it is certainly large - I suggest at least 1 metre diameter - perhaps more likely a raven or another bird pf prey than a magpie. I have previously sent request to the tower operators that if they visit the top and if they see any feathers or egg shells in the nest, it would be great to collect some for identification - of course this may show a couple of species??

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 1 - 3 Abundance
  • 24 Jul 2022 02:22 PM Recorded on
  • cmobbs Recorded by

Additional information

  • True Nesting site

Species information

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  • Confirmed by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
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