Varies considerably across range, but always note tail fork (can disappear when tail is fully open), and short head and neck.
Not listed
Indigenous: Garrgany, Manggarraan, Gulumbiji, Kite-Hawk, Kimberley Hawk, Allied Kite, Fork-Tailed Kite, Kite
At a glance
FamilyHawks, Eagles, and Kites
SizeGiant
RarityCommon
HabitatFrequently forages in urban areas, rubbish dumps, aquatic habitats, and grassland, but usually avoids heavily forested areas.
Best timeMost reliable in Queensland from June to August.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Olivier SWIFT
Range map
Range map
200approx hotspots
238151approx records
5states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Juvenile averages paler and more contrastingly-marked. Flight style buoyant, gliding and changing direction with ease.
Behavior
Frequently forages in urban areas, rubbish dumps, aquatic habitats, and grassland, but usually avoids heavily forested areas. Sometimes solitary, but also gathers in large flocks on migration and at good feeding areas.
Gallery
Regional timing
Queensland
Northern Territory
Western Australia
New South Wales
South Australia
Victoria
Tasmania
Australian Capital Territory