Pacific Baza

The Pacific baza, known also as the crested hawk or Pacific cuckoo-falcon, is a medium-sized hawk with a slender build. It boasts a mix of grey, brown, and white plumage and measures between 35 to 46 centimeters in length. This omnivorous bird is typically non-migratory and is recognized by its small crest on the nape.

Identification Tips

Adult Pacific bazas have a white underside with black barring, a grey head with a partially domed shape, and yellow eyes set far back on the head. Their thighs are reddish-brown, and their feet are grey. In flight, their broad, rounded wings display distinct bands and are large relative to their body size. The tail is long with a square end and black tip, matching the body in length.

Habitat

These birds inhabit subtropical and tropical forests, dry savannas, and freshwater bodies, including wetlands, streams, and rivers. They are typically found at elevations below 1,000 meters, though they can occasionally be spotted up to 1,300 meters.

Distribution

The Pacific baza is found in the warmer, more humid regions of the Australasian realm. It breeds in Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands, and is also a resident in East Timor.

Behaviour

Pacific bazas are known for their unobtrusive and docile nature. They are social birds, often gathering in groups outside the breeding season. Their diet includes fruits, insects, tree-frogs, lizards, snakes, and birds. They hunt by diving into foliage or snatching prey mid-air. During the breeding season, they perform soaring displays and vocalize distinct "pee-peow" calls.

Song & Calls

The vocal repertoire of the Pacific baza includes a two-note call, starting with a rising pitch followed by a more explosive descending note.

Breeding

Breeding season commences in September and can extend beyond February in some regions. The Pacific baza builds flimsy stick nests high in tree branches and lays 1-4 white, occasionally spotted eggs. Both parents share incubation duties, with shifts typically lasting around 1.5 hours.

Similar Species

The long-tailed honey buzzard may be mistaken for the Pacific baza, but it can be distinguished by its less-rounded wings and a breast that is barred rather than streaked.

Diet and Feeding

Pacific bazas are omnivores, consuming a varied diet of fruits, insects, and small vertebrates. They have been observed to intentionally eat fruit, contrary to earlier beliefs that their fruit consumption was accidental.

Conservation Status

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the Pacific baza as a species of Least Concern, thanks to its large range and stable population. It is also part of the international pet trade.