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;[[:Category:Aquila|Aquila]] audax | ;[[:Category:Aquila|Aquila]] audax | ||
[[Image:Wedge Tailed Eagle Gary Sissons.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Photo by {{user|Scoop01|Scoop01}}<br />Mornington Peninsula, [[Victoria]], [[Australia]], April 2007]] | [[Image:Wedge Tailed Eagle Gary Sissons.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Photo by {{user|Scoop01|Scoop01}}<br />Mornington Peninsula, [[Victoria]], [[Australia]], April 2007]] | ||
| − | [[Image:Eagle, Wedge-tailed 04kk Aquila audax AUSTRALIA.jpg|thumb| | + | [[Image:Eagle, Wedge-tailed 04kk Aquila audax AUSTRALIA.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|peterday|peterday}}<br />Naracoorte, [[South Australia]], December 2014]] |
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
Australia's largest eagle. | Australia's largest eagle. | ||
Revision as of 06:25, 15 December 2014
- Aquila audax
Identification
Australia's largest eagle. Long wings with long primaries can span from 2 to 2.5 metres. Males smaller than females.
Young birds are light brown becoming darker with age until almost all black for the most mature adults.
Similar Species
Immatures can be confused with immature White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster which has a much shorter wedge-shaped tail.
Distribution
Australia: occurs almost throughout the continent and on Tasmania, also in southern New Guinea. Resident and nomadic.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are 2 subspecies fleayi in Tasmania and nominate in remainder of range.
Flight shot
Photo by stoop
South-eastern Queensland, Australia
Immature bird is paler in colour
Photo by Mat & Cathy
Oxley Creek Common, Brisbane, SE Queensland, Ausralia, October 2009
Habitat
Dry open plains to mountain forests. Nests in trees or sometimes on the ground on islands
Behaviour
Flight
Long 'wedge' or diamond-shaped tail and long wings and primaries are most obvious when soaring.
Diet
Preys on mammals, large birds and large reptiles (such as snakes and goannas). Can be encountered feeding on road-killed animals in country areas.
References
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Wedge-tailed Eagle. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 30 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Wedge-tailed_Eagle
