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Enormous gray and white raptor that soars with wings held in strong V-shape.
VIC: Vulnerable; WA: Endangered; TAS: Vulnerable
Indigenous: Ni-Ngakngak, Tjilyin, Ngagangaga, Ngagngag, Wurriyarlan.Ga, Ngawu Ru Ngawu Ru, Magaga, Ngakngak, Jagbarramba, Tjilyiny, Guwinyarri, Ŋagarŋiaga, Tjiliyon, Tjiliyan, Ngalor, Ngulor, Tjiliyon Bangap, White-Bellied Fish-Hawk, Sea Eagle, White-Breasted Sea Eagle, White-Bellied Sea Eagle
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 October.
Range map
Range map
6072visible hotspots
196011visible records
6states
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 black and white underwing pattern, short tail. Juvenile is much browner and can be confused with Wedge-tailed Eagle, but note mostly pale and fairly short tail.
Behavior
Predominantly found along coastlines, as well as estuaries and inland waterways.
Gallery