From Opus

Haliastur sphenurus

Photo by RMD
Photo taken: Australia.

[edit] Identification

50–60 cm; females are larger and heavier than males. Pale buff head, breast and tail, brown wings, black flight feathers, bone-coloured legs and feet. Immature birds are a heavily-streaked reddish-brown with prominent pale spots on the wings.

[edit] Distribution

Australasia. Breeds in eastern New Guinea, New Caledonia and widely distributed in Australia where it occurs virtually throughout the mainland. Resident over most of range but nomadic in parts of Australia. Vagrants recorded on Tasmania and King Island.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Habitat

Open woodland, grassland with scattered trees, lakesides, swamps and riverine woodland.

[edit] Behaviour

The diet includes small mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, crustaceans, insects and carrion.

The nest is a bulky platform made of sticks and lined with green leaves, placed in an upright fork of a tall tree. 2–3 bluish-white eggs, which are sometimes covered with reddish-brown blotches, are laid and are incubated for 35–40 days. After a further 44–54 days the young fledge.

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on the ABID