- Aviceda subcristata
(Pacific Baza, Crested Hawk)
Aviceda subcristata Photographed in Samsonvale, SE Queensland.
Identification
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.
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. Indonesia and Australasia. Breeds in the Lesser Sunda Islands, the Moluccas, New Guinea and surrounding islands, the Bismarck Archipelago and Solomon Islands. In Australia found in coastal areas of the north and east from the Kimberleys to about Newcastle in New South Wales. Resident.
Taxonomy
About 16 subspecies are recognised: nominate race is found in eastern and north-eastern Australia, njikena in north-western Australia. Race timorlaoensis is found from Lombok to Timor and Babar, rufa in the Obi Islands and North Moluccas, stresemanni on Buru, reinwardtii on Seram and Ambon, pallida in the Kei Islands, obscura on Biak, waigeuensis on Waigeo, stenozona in western New Guinea, the Aru Islands and Misol, megala in eastern New Guinea, Fergusson and Goodenough Islands, bismarckii in New Britain, New Ireland and New Hanover, coultasi in the Admiralty Islands and Manus, gurneyi on San Cristobal, Ugi, Santa Anna, Malaita and Guadalcanal, robusta on Choiseul and Ysabel Islands, and proxima on Bougainville and Shortland 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.
Behaviour
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.
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. 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. It nests high in forest and woodland trees, with a clutch size of 2-4. Both parents brood and feed the chicks. Bazas have a spectacular tumbling display-flight during courtship.
