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Uncommon, inconspicuous raptor with a fairly small bill.
VIC: Vulnerable; WA: Endangered; NT: Vulnerable
Sensitive species — location data may be restricted
Endemic to Australia
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 April to August.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Greg McLachlan
Range map
Range map
2726visible hotspots
18895visible 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
Adult has a pale head and reddish underparts with black streaks on neck. Juvenile has a more reddish head with less streaking. In flight, tail has obvious square corners with a dark band at the base. Occurs singly or in pairs. At a distance, and particularly when heavily worn, take care to identify juvenile birds from Black Kite, which has more uniformly patterned plumage.
Behavior
Sails over forest woodland habitats just above the tree canopy, typically with little wing movement.
Gallery