The dead bird crashed in a box at the rear of the Hawke's Bay Today premises, where surprised staff spotted the large falcon sitting on a fence rail, cautiously eyeing its dinner.
The falcon was about 8m from a busy entrance, and after 20 minutes, plucked up the courage to hop into the box, out of sight, to eat its prey.
After partially eating the pigeon, the falcon returned on Friday afternoon for a second attempt at eating the bird, this time safely behind a nearby fence where no one could bother it.
Havelock North ecologist Dr John McLennan, who has a QSM for services to kiwi, said the endemic falcon often left breeding grounds to come into urban areas to feed during winter.
DoC Hawke's Bay senior biodiversity ranger Denise Fastier said the falcon population was on the rise in the region, so it was "exciting" but not surprising to hear of one in the city centre.
"Kārearea go where the food is, and pigeons can be a popular food source," she said.
"They're beautiful and impressive birds, capable of flying up to 100km/h. Although they're on the rise, they are still recovering and are protected under the Wildlife Act."
Regional representative for Birds NZ Bernie Kelly said there was a chance the falcon had been in the area "for a while".
"We are definitely recording more sightings around town. They hawk around for food in the evenings," he said.
"They tend to target pigeon lofts," which are raised shelters or buildings where pigeons are kept.
"When a falcon is young they can struggle to catch food. Quite a lot don't make it," he said.
"Pigeons make for an easy target."
One of 38 species of falcon worldwide, the New Zealand falcon is endemic to this country.
The falcon has a wide distribution, found on the North and South Islands and several offshore islands, including Stewart Island and the subantarctic Auckland Islands.
Recently, plantation pine forests have been found to be important breeding habitats for falcons.
The highest known density of the species is found in Kaingaroa pine forest in the central North Island.
According to DoC there are three ecological forms of the falcon.
The small dark bush falcons live in forests. They are found in the North Island, mainly south of Hamilton; and northwest South Island as far south as Greymouth.
Large paler eastern falcons live in open, drier habitats east of the Southern Alps but extend from coast to coast in central South Island.
Southern falcons are intermediate in size and colouration and live in Fiordland, Stewart Island and the Auckland Islands.
Adult New Zealand falcons measure between 40cm and 50 cm. Males are smaller than females. Males weigh between 240g and 350g, while females weigh between 410g and 720g.
