Pacific Baza.
Photo: J Harrington © J Harrington
Pacifc Baza.
Photo: N Lazarus © N Lazarus
Pacific Baza.
Photo: N Lazarus © N Lazarus
Distribution map of Aviceda subcristata
Map © Birds Australia Birdata
Pacific Baza
Scientific name: Aviceda subcristata
Family: Accipitridae
Order: Falconiformes
What does it look like?
Description
The Pacific Baza is a medium-sized, long-tailed hawk with a prominent crest. It is slim-bodied, with a narrow head and neck. The wings are paddle-shaped, well-rounded and deeply 'fingered'. The head, neck and breast are grey and the underparts are white with bold dark banding. The legs are short with weak toes. The eyes are golden-yellow and domed, placed well on the side of the head, giving a slightly 'pop-eyed' look. The female is heavier and browner on the crown than the male. It is also known as the Crested Hawk or Baza, or the Pacific Cuckoo-Falcon.
Similar species
The Pacific Baza's crest and boldly barred abdomen make this bird of prey distinctive. The breast is much more finely barred than on the Collared Sparrowhawk, Accipiter cirrhocephalus, or the Brown Goshawk, A. fasciatus.
Where does it live?
Distribution
The Pacific Baza is found in tropical and subtropical forest and woodland in northern and eastern Australia, but rarely south of Sydney. It is also found in the Indo-Malayan peninsula, most of mainland New Guinea and nearby islands and the Solomon Islands.
Habitat
Pacific Bazas are found in tropical and subtropical woodlands and forest and sometimes grasslands, farmlands and urban areas. They prefer well-watered areas.
Seasonal movements
Little is known of their movements; they are considered sedentary in some regions and dispersive or migratory in others.What does it do?
Feeding
The Pacific Baza's favourite prey is large insects, particularly stick insects and mantids, and frogs. They sometimes eat fruit as well. Bazas will move through the canopy, or perch and watch, then make short dives, with feet extended, to snatch prey from the foliage or from the air.
Breeding
The Pacific Baza builds a flimsy flat nest of sticks, which is placed high in the upper leafy branches of a tree. Often the nest blows down. They are very secretive when breeding and the parent sits quietly on the nest, with its long tail sticking out over the rim. Both parents brood and feed the chicks. Bazas have a spectacular tumbling display-flight during courtship.
Living with us
Living with humans
Some clearing may have been beneficial to the Pacific Baza, by opening up areas for hunting.References
Marchant, S. and Higgins, P.J. (eds) 1993. Handbook of Australian New Zealand And Antartic Birds Vol. 2: (Raptors To Lapwings). Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
Olsen, P. 1995. Australian Birds of Prey: the Biology and Conservation of Raptors. University of New South Wales Press, Sydney.
Olsen, P., Crome, F. and Olsen, J. 1993. The Birds of Prey and Ground Birds of Australia. Angus and Robertson, and the National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife, Sydney.
Hollands, D. 2003. Eagles, Hawks and Falcons of Australia. Bloomings Books. Melbourne.