Falco berigora
Silhouette: Shyamal · PhyloPic
In 3 days <5% in a week ~10%
The brown falcon (Falco berigora) is a relatively large falcon native to Australia and New Guinea. A number of plumage morphs occur, with the primary distinction being between the pale morph and the dark morph. Both morphs usually have dark brown upper parts and wing coverts. Dark morph birds have predominantly dark under parts, although some light streaking is common. Pale morph birds have white underparts that are varyingly streaked with brown, sometimes heavily so. Pale individuals may also have prominently white under tail coverts and these may be diagnostic. A distinctive aspect of their behaviour is shown in the breeding season when brown falcons make a loud, high pitched, cackle call (like a laying hen) and screeching while in flight.
The species name berigora has Aboriginal origins. Adults are usually 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20 in) long. They are found in light and dark forms and a variety of intermediates. Animals typically have red-brown heads with narrow black streaks with a light crown and off-white chin. Wings are a spotted red-brown with dark brown quills. Beaks are light blue/grey; eyes are brown. The falcons make a loud cackle call uttered frequently.... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Flinders Ranges National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Kakadu National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Kosciuszko National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Litchfield National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Flinders Chase | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Hattah-Kulkyne National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 8 | Cape Range | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 9 | Ningaloo Marine Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 10 | Freycinet National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 11 | Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 12 | Nitmiluk National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 13 | Maria Island National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 14 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 15 | Wilsons Promontory National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 16 | Grampians National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 17 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 18 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alice Springs Desert Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Healesville Sanctuary | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Brown Falcon sighting in Melbourne on a given day, based on 298 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 141st most-seen of the 236 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to under 5%, and over a week to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Brown Falcon in Melbourne on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between noon and 3 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Brown Falcon sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 5 cities where we can rate Brown Falcon sightings, Melbourne ranks 3rd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Brisbane (Australia, under 5%) and Hobart (Australia, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Brown Falcon is recorded against all the birds logged in Melbourne (298 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
