The Pacific Baza is a raptor of tropical and subtropical woodlands where it breeds in tall trees, placing its shallow, cup-shaped nest of sticks and twigs among the foliage. When breeding, its principle food is stick insects, which are snatched from the outer foliage of the canopy, sometimes after perching in the canopy and inspecting the leaves, or scrambling about through the foliage, but most usually by plunging into the foliage after flying just above the treetops.
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.
A double cry ‘ee-tui, ee-tui’ or ‘whee-choo, whee-choo’ the second note lower. Bird call recorded by: Ross Gallardy
The Pacific Baza is found in tropical and subtropical forests and woodland in northern and eastern Australia, but rarely south of Sydney. It is also found in eastern Indonesia, most of mainland New Guinea and nearby islands and the Solomon Islands.
Habitat: Grassland, Woodland, Rainforest, Urban, Forest
Pacific Bazas are found in tropical and subtropical woodlands and forest and sometimes grasslands, farmlands and urban areas. They prefer well-watered areas.
The Pacific Baza has golden-yellow, domed eyes which are placed on the sides of its head. This gives it excellent side vision, useful for finding mantids among the leaves. Little is known of their movements; they are considered sedentary in some regions and dispersive or migratory in others.
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. Both parents brood and feed the chicks. Bazas have a spectacular tumbling display flight during courtship.
