birding-aus

Re: Black Falcon question

To: "Tony Eales" <>
Subject: Re: Black Falcon question
From: "Chris Sanderson" <>
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:35:52 +1000
Hi Tony,

Greg Clancy put up a more complete list earlier which is why I didn't
respond.  The most important feature when you first try and ID a Black
Falcon in flight is actually that the light doesn't shine through its
wings.  A Brown has clear two-toned wings because the light comes through
its primaries, the Black has a solid dark wing colour all over.  This is the
easiest feature to use in flight at distance.  You will get the hang of the
wing position eventually, but to use it before you are familiar with the
species is unwise, especially in abnormal wind conditions.

Other very useful features already mentioned are the Black Falcon is a
larger, more robust bird, with a relatively longer tail, and broader wings.
The silhouette of the two birds is completely different.

Regards,
Chris

On Fri, Jun 27, 2008 at 5:44 AM, Tony Eales <> wrote:

>
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> Thanks to all who replied on and off list. To sumarise for any lurkers who
> like me are interested, the best field characters are
> 1. When perched the "baggy trousers" of the Black as opposed to spindley
> legs of the Brown
> 2. In flight flat wings in Black compared with more upswept in Brown;
> shallow, quick wingbeats for Black.  Brown falcon has deep, slow wingbeats;
> Long diamond shaped wings for Black and shorter rounder wings for Brown.
> 3. Birders generally admire the Black way more
>
> Thanks also for pointing out that all brown Brown Falcons are juvenile
> rather than a morph. I guess that's why there's been so many around lately.
>
> Cheers Tony
>
> www.birding-aus.org
> birding-aus.blogspot.com
>
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