About the New Zealand Falcon
The New Zealand falcon is New Zealand's only falcon, and one of only four living native and two endemic birds of prey. It is frequently mistaken for the larger and more common swamp harrier. It is the country's most threatened bird of prey, with only around 5000–15000 individuals remaining. Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System the falcon is stable at Threatened, with conservation research needed. The kārearea was voted Bird of the Year winner in the annual Forest & Bird competition in 2012 and again in 2025.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Falconiformes |
| Family | Falcons and Caracaras (Falconidae) |
| Species | Falco novaeseelandiae |
| Species Codes | nezfal1, NZFA |
| Conservation | NT Near Threatened |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the New Zealand Falcon belong to?
The New Zealand Falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae) belongs to the Falcons and Caracaras family (Falconidae), in the order Falconiformes.
What is the conservation status of the New Zealand Falcon?
The New Zealand Falcon is classified as "Near Threatened" (NT) by IUCN Red List.
How can I identify the New Zealand Falcon?
The New Zealand falcon is New Zealand's only falcon, and one of only four living native and two endemic birds of prey. It is frequently mistaken for the larger and more common swamp harrier. It is the country's most threatened bird of prey, with only around 5000–15000 individuals remaining. Under th...
Where can I report a New Zealand Falcon sighting?
You can log sightings of New Zealand Falcon on eBird (ebird.org) using species code nezfal1, or on iNaturalist.
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