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Small, striking gray and white raptor with black shoulder patches.
WA: Vulnerable
Indigenous: White-Breasted Sparrow Hawk
At a glance
FamilyHawks, Eagles, and Kites
SizeGiant
RarityUncommon
HabitatOpen country, coast, woodland edge, river corridors, and thermal-rich skies over fields or ridgelines.
Best timeMost reliable in Queensland from May to August.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Mike Letnic
Range map
Range map
269visible hotspots
931visible records
5states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
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
Underparts white with two black patches on underwing extending from
Behavior
The species begins breeding in response to rodent outbreaks, with pairs nesting in loose colonies of up to 50 birds each. Roosting in well-foliaged trees during the day, the letter-winged kite hunts mostly at night.
Gallery