Also known as the Little Falcon these are found throughout Australia and are a winter migrant to Indonesia and New Guinea, it is one of Australia's smallest raptors. They inhabit open woodlands with large trees, along roads and watercourses, in remnant bushland and around parks and gardens. The photo was taken at the Kinka Wetlands, though not very common here you will occasionally see one along quiet bush roads, they strongly resemble Peregrine and Brown Falcons so identification can be difficult.
They mostly catch their prey in the air, manoeuvring swiftly through the foliage in chase of other birds, sometimes nearly their own size, they will also take large insects, bats and small mammals. This adaptable falcon will shadow the collared sparrow hawk, benefitting from birds flushed out of dense foliage by the more agile hawk.
The sexes are similar and when breeding they take over the nests of other birds or build a nest made from sticks at the top of tall trees. The female lays 2-4 eggs then incubates them and broods the young while the male hunts.