/
Heavily built rusty red raptor with large yellow legs and feet.
Endangered
Sensitive species — location data may be restricted
Endemic to Australia
Indigenous: Rufous-Bellied Buzzard, Red Buzzard
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 July to September.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Pieter de Groot Boersma
Range map
Range map
215visible hotspots
1083visible 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
In flight note bulging trailing edge to wing. Tends to soar with wings back and head protruding. Extremely rare and typically limited to tropical areas near river systems in northern Australia. Please try to get a photo if you see one!
Behavior
When perched, the tail is longer than folded wings (Square-tailed Kite has wings extending below the tail).
Gallery