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  1. Species
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  3. Accipitridae
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  5. Aviceda
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  7. Pacific Baza
Pacific Baza
Photo · no rights reserved

BirdUp · Species

Pacific Baza

Aviceda subcristata(Gould, 1838)

Updated 11 June 2026

Origin: Native
Order
ACCIPITRIFORMES
Family
Accipitridae
Genus
Aviceda

At a glance

The Pacific Baza is a large bird, about 35–45 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
35–45 cm
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Pacific Baza look like?

The Pacific Baza is a large bird, about 35–45 cm long and weighing 259–448 g.

The Pacific baza, also known as the crested hawk, crested baza, and Pacific cuckoo-falcon, is a slender, medium-sized species of hawk in the family Accipitridae. It is mostly grey, brown, and white coloured and grows to a length of 35–46 centimetres (14–18 in). It is an omnivore and usually does not migrate. The breeding season for the species lasts from September to at least February, during which time specimens commonly fly and vocalise for display. It lives in Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and East Timor, in forests, savannas, and freshwater bodies. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists it as a least concern species.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
35–45 cm
Weight
259–448 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Pacific Baza?

The Pacific Baza is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

Martin Rady · Wakerley QLD, Australia

Call

prossington · Major Mitchell Reserve, Blaxland, NSW, AU

Call

prossington · Major Mitchell Reserve, Blaxland, NSW, AU

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Pacific Baza eat?

The Pacific Baza feeds on terrestrial invertebrates and terrestrial vertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or flocks or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

4 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Pacific Baza live in Australia?

The Pacific Baza is native to Australia, recorded across 38 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingWallacea (except Sulawesi), New Guinea region, north and east Australia, Bismarck Arch. and Solomon Is.

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Breeding
  • Vagrant

7 regions recorded