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Conspicuous medium-sized hawk with broad paddle-shaped wings that pinch in close to the body.
Not listed
Indigenous: Rayi, Crested Hawk
At a glance
FamilyHawks, Eagles, and Kites
SizeGiant
RarityCommon
HabitatOpen country, coast, woodland edge, river corridors, and thermal-rich skies over fields or ridgelines.
Best timeMost reliable in Queensland from July to November.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Mike FitzGerald
Range map
Range map
1931visible hotspots
34881visible records
4states
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
When perched it is easily distinguished from other species by small black crest on the back of gray head and enormous yellow eyes, prominent brown stripes on white belly. Often found in suburban areas. Crashes into foliage to snatch insect prey.
Behavior
Conspicuous medium-sized hawk with broad paddle-shaped wings that pinch in close to the body.
Gallery