Talk:New Zealand falcon

Comment
What was wrong with the previous photo of an individual bird which Kahuroa replaced? its a good photograph which gives one a good impression of what the bird looks like and even if its not above the taxo box it might as well be included on the page somewhere Kotare 04:24, 2 March 2007 (UTC)
 * Restored. Sorry about that. I guess as a Kāhu-roa I don't like seeing a pic of one of my rellies in captivity. Anyway, hopefully all the other pix I have provided for otherwise picture-less NZ birds will make up for the occasional lapse in judgement. Kahuroa 07:07, 2 March 2007 (UTC)
 * No worries dude, haha. Yeah I've seen some of the other work you've been doing.. Black stilt and Whitehead pic's amongst others- articles on NZ birds are seriously in need of attention on wikipedia and your work really adds to these articles.. a picture is worth a thousand words after all- keep it up! Cheers, Kotare 07:36, 2 March 2007 (UTC)
 * Hey man, cheers. Basically those pix were a side effect from my starting bird articles on the Māori wikipedia - I like to have pix - especially on the MW. Next is trees etc... And (why do I always think up new work for myself) - range maps for as many as is possible of the birds and trees. Kahuroa 08:11, 2 March 2007 (UTC)

As an alternative to the image here
Or if it is worth having two, I have uploaded another one to Wikimedia Commons:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:NZ_Falcon_2007_03_04.jpg —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Karora (talk • contribs) 08:19, 4 March 2007 (UTC).
 * Nice pic - awesome in fact. Cheers. I took the liberty of making a cropped version and I have added it to the page. Hope you don't mind... Kahuroa 08:43, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
 * No problem. That's why I uploaded it :-) —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 202.78.240.7 (talk) 21:13, 4 March 2007 (UTC).


 * Not sure about the 3rd paragraph saying that it's a hobby. New Zealabnd falcons are completely different from other falcons in many ways, and the only specific similarity I can see between it and the hobby is that they are both quite small. Also, it should be said that other falcons also kill with the tomal tooth on the beak - but New Zealand falcons are special because they have two tomal teeth (perhaps because they used to prey on an extinct type of parrot, remains of which have been found on nest sites). If no one has problems with this I think it should be added in. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 217.42.124.158 (talk) 12:39, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

Common names
An anon editor added 'New Zealand Hawk' as the common name ahead of New Zealand Falcon - I don't agree at all, so have reverted. But if anyone has more information or a reliable source ... Kahuroa (talk) 20:08, 18 December 2008 (UTC)


 * The New Zealand Hawk is the Kahu or Swamp Harrier. Other names for the New Zealand Falcon are Bush Hawk and Sparrow Hawk. -- Alan Liefting (talk) - 09:33, 25 February 2010 (UTC)

Birds of prey
the nz falcon is one of New Zealands birds of prey. Along with the morepork it is a highly aggresive and violent bird when deffending its own territory. It has a wingspan of around 45cm when in flight. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 122.57.160.5 (talk) 21:00, 27 March 2010 (UTC)

NZ falcon / karearea being shot
An IP editor has removed content from the Interactions with humans section that stated: "They continue to be persecuted by farmers and pigeon-owners", with an edit summary: Removed incorrect content. I have checked the cited source in New Zealand Geographic. It is a review of a book "The Hunters" written by Debbie Stewart, the founder of Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre, and a leading New Zealand authority on the rescue and rehabilitation of injured raptors. The book review includes:"'New Zealand has fewer falcons than kiwi - under 8000 birds in total - but they continue to be shot by farmers and owners of poultry and pigeons, due to what Stewart considers an exaggerated notion of the threat they pose. Up to three-quarters of falcons die in their first year, she says, largely as a result of human activities.'" In another issue of NZ Geographic, Stewart is quoted: "“Most of the birds we get in here have been shot,” says Debbie Stewart of the Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre in Rotorua. “It’s criminal.” She speaks of both her outrage and the law: native birds have absolute protection under the Wildlife Act.'"

Stewart appears to be better placed to know the facts about falcon being shot than almost any other person in New Zealand. However, there is some other independent reporting of NZ falcon/karearea being shot. See:, ,. There is also a story from 2000 where DOC alleges that pigeon owners are shooting falcons.

The DOC website about NZ falcon / karearea currently states:"Despite their fully protected status, New Zealand falcons are still illegally shot by people, particularly when falcons occasionally kill racing pigeons or chickens."

It appears likely from the sources quoted, that many or most of the falcons being shot are being attacked by those with interests in racing pigeons and chickens.

I will amend the content but retain a reference to claims that those who are illegally shooting NZ falcons are people with interests in racing pigeons or chickens.--Marshelec (talk) 03:46, 1 September 2022 (UTC)