- Aquila audax
Identification
81–104 cm (32-50 in); 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.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are 2 subspecies [1]:
- A. a. audax:
- Plains, deserts, open woodlands of Australia and southern New Guinea
- A. a. fleayi:
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.
Movements
Resident and nomadic.
Vocalisation
Call: a thin high-pitched whistle given in flight.
Gallery
Click on photo for larger image
Flight shot
Photo by stoop
South-eastern Queensland, Australia
Immature
Photo by Mat & Cathy
Oxley Creek Common, Brisbane, SE Queensland, Australia, October 2009
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved April 2015)
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
External Links
