Birds of prey are made up of birds from families of Ospreys, Kites, Goshawks, Eagles, Harriers and Falcons. These birds mostly hunt for live prey ‘on the wing,’ while flying. Some are opportunistic scavengers. Nests are large and conspicuous, made of sticks. Females are often larger than males. All birds have short heads, hooked beaks, large talons, powerful legs and broad wings.
Birds of Prey are abundant in the Kimberley compared to elsewhere in Australia. See how many different Birds of Prey you can see prey next time you go for a drive. Record using a ‘What’s in your Backyard?’ datasheet.
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Key characteristics to look for when identifying species:
Size
Habitat
Colour – body and wings Shape of wings when gliding
Colour of legs and feet
Crest
Markings on face
Shape of tail
Colour of eye
Call when in flight
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Bird of Prey1 |
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Pacific Baza
Aviceda subcristata
Size: 35 – 45 cm
Distinguishing features: Short crest;
Grey upperparts and chest; Underwing
pale rufous (brown/orange) with barred fingers on wing tip; Belly whitish with bold dark bars.
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Habitat: Coastal/sub-coastal forest; towns and parklands.
Distribution: Coastal Kimberley, NT, QLD and Nth NSW.
Call: Double whistle, rising and falling; Soft chatter.
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Black-Shouldered Kite
Elanus axillaris
Size: 35 cm
Distinguishing features: Dusk and dawn
Hunter; Individual or family group in top
dead trees; Black patch around eye, forms an eye brow; Body white with grey wings; Distinct black shoulders; Dark wing tips.
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Habitat: Open woodland; grasslands; crops and parkland.
Distribution: Australia wide.
Call: Harsh ‘kat,’ soft ‘chep.’
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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Bird of Prey 3 |
© Katrina Nissen
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©Ray Lanaghan
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
Size: 50 - 65 cm; wingspan to 1.7 m.
Distinguishing features: Patrols over
water; Plunges feet first; Distinct brown
streak through eye and down sides of neck; White head and chest; Brown mottled stripe under throat; Male light; Darker female.
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Habitat: Mangroves, rivers and estuaries. Common along Ord River from Lake Kununurra to Argyle Dam Wall.
Distribution: Coastal Australia.
Call: Ringing whistles.
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Square-Tailed Kite
Lophoictinia isura
Size: 50 - 55 cm; wingspan ave 140 cm.
Distinguishing features: Solitary; Slender
with long wings; White face; Long square
tail, with dark band across end; Underwings rufous (brown/orange) in colour; Barred fingers on wing tips;
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Similar to Black Kite, Black-Breasted Buzzard,
Red Goshawk and Swamp Harrier.
Habitat: Open forest; woodland or scrub.
Distribution: WA, NT, QLD, NSW, Vic and SA.
Call: Yelp and weak chatter
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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Black-Breasted Buzzard
Hamirostra melanosternon
Size: 50 – 60 cm, wingspan av 150 cm
Distinguishing features: Blackish in
colour; rufous patches on neck, shoulder,
thighs and vent; distinct white patch on under-side of wing near each tip, a ‘bull’s eye’; Juvenile rufous in colour; Similar to Little Eagle and Swamp Harrier.
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Habitat: Woodland or Arid scrub.
Distribution: WA, NT, QLD, NSW and SA.
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Call: Short shape whistles and calls
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Black Kite
Milvus migrans
Size: 45-55 cm; wingspan ave 130 cm.
Distinguishing features: Classic forked
tail; Uniform brown/grey almost black in
strong light; pale shoulder bar; no pale
patches on wings; yellow between beak
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and eyes (cere); yellow feet. Similar to Whistling kite.
Habitat: Soars over fires; landfill; woodlands and watercourses.
Call: Descending “see..err”; whistles “si..i..i..i”
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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© Mel Mitchell
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Whistling Kite
Haliastur (Milvus) sphenurus
Size: 50-60 cm, wingspan ave 135 cm.
Distinguishing features: Head and
underneath pale feathers; Dark wings
with pale wing linings; In flight underneath looks like a “W”; Juvenile has spots on dark wings; plain pale tail. |
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Habitat: Soars over woodlands; waterway; seashores; Loves Kununurra oval.
Distribution: Australia wide.
Call: Distinct and repeated whistle “Si..si..si..si..si” decreasing in intensity.
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
Brahminy Kite
Haliastur indus
Size: 45 - 50 cm, wingspan ave 120 cm
Distinguishing features: Chestnut body
and wings; white head and chest; dark
wing tips; rounded tail with white tip.
Habitat: Mudflats; mangroves; and islands.
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Distribution: Coastal northern Australia, WA to NSW.
Call: ‘pee-ah-ah-ah.’
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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Bird of Prey 9 |
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Kimberley Toad Busters |
White-Bellied Sea Eagle
Haliaeetus leucogaster
Size: 75 – 85 cm, wingspan to 220 cm.
Distinguishing features: White head,
chest and tail; Grey back and underside
of wings; Bare whitish legs; Female larger than male; Juvenile mottled brown.
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Habitat: Large rivers and lakes or coastal.
Distribution: Coastal Australia.
Call: Honking and cackling like a goose.
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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Wedge-tailed Eagle
Aquila audax
Size: 85-105 cm; wingspan to 230 cm.
Distinguishing features: Large. Soars
with long fingered upswept wings; Brown/black becoming darker with age; Scruffy feathers on neck; Tail distinct long wedge shape; Dark hooked beak; legs feet paler; hooked claws (talons) obvious.
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Habitat: Various except forest; common along roadsides.
Distribution: Australia wide.
Call: Feeble yelps and squeals.
| Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia” |
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Little Eagle
Heiraaetus morphnoides
Size: 45 - 55 cm; wingspan ave 120 cm
Distinguishing features: Head
light brown to light rufous; Black
streaks on cheeks; Short crest of black feathers; Prominent light band on wing; Wing feathers tipped with black; Legs feathered; Either light or dark brown morphs. Similar to Whistling Kite and Square-tailed Kite.
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Habitat: Open forest and woodland; agricultural land.
Distribution: Australia wide.
Call: Loud high pitched whistle, 2-3 rapid notes. Also, mellow long squeals.
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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Brown Goshawk
Accipiter fasciatus
Size: 40 – 55 cm; wingspan to 100 cm.
Distinguishing features: Bright yellow
eyes; Flat winged glide when soaring;
Beetled-browed; Head/body grey. Orange/brown (rufous) collar across neck; underneath faintly barred
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rufous, white; long yellow legs.
Habitat: Timbered areas; hunts near waterways.
Distribution: Australia wide.
Call: Chatter; squeals and rapid shrills.
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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Bird of Prey13 |
© Katrina Nissen
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Collared Sparrowhawk
Accipiter cirrhocephalus
Size: 30 - 40 cm
Distinguishing features: Short rounded
Wings; Similar colour to Brown Goshawk,
however squarer tail, less beetle-browed eyes, finer legs and toes; Male smaller than female; Flat winged glide when soaring.
Habitat: Areas with trees.
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Distribution: Australia wide.
Call: Male: rapid shrill chatter. Female: lower pitch; slower calls. |
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| Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia” |
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| © Fatih Sam |
© Larry Dunis |
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White or Grey Goshawk
Accipiter novaehollandiae
Size: 40 - 55 cm
Distinguishing features: Either pure
white or grey colour plumage; Kimberley
dominated by white plumage; Eye dark red; Wings rounded with darker wing tips; Yellow legs.
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Habitat: Forests, esp. coastal forest.
Distribution: Coastal Australia from Kimberley, NT, QLD, NSW, Vic SA.
Call: Rising repeated shrill whistle, also chatter.
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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Bird of Prey15 |
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Red Goshawk
Erythrotriorchis radiatus
Size: 45 - 60 cm, wing span to 130 cm.
Distinguishing features: Yellow eyes;
Head rufous (orange/brown) with black
and white streaks; White on face and throat; Body rufous with dark markings; Long wings, fingered at tips,
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rufous with light and dark patterning.;Long tail, barred grey and rufous; Strong yellow legs. Habitat: Coastal forest and woodland.
Distribution: Coastal Australia from Kimberley, NT, QLD and NSW.
Call: Loud chatter and yelps.
Status: Vulnerable.
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© Peter Merritt |
© Ian Colley |
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Spotted Harrier
Circus assimilis
Size: 50 - 62 cm
Distinguishing features: Face and
underside are distinctly chestnut with
white spots; Soars with wings elevated,
grey with black tips; Tail has clear bars and wedge shaped; Long yellow legs; Hunts over low vegetation.
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Habitat: Open grassland and crops.
Distribution: Australia wide.
Call: Rapid chatter and squeeks.
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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Swamp Harrier
Circus approximans
Size: 50 - 60 cm; wing span to 120 cm.
Distinguishing features: Dark brown;
Distinct white rump; Tail and wings
Barred; Underparts off-white to light
Brown; Long yellow legs; Female larger with rufous underside.
Habitat:Long grass, reeds, ushes; open water
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Distribution: Australia wide.
Call: ‘seee-ha’ during aerial transfer of food and ‘kee-a’ during courtship flight
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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Black Falcon
Falco subniger
Size: 45 - 55 cm; wing span to 120 cm.
Distinguishing features: Glides on wings
with slight droop; Dark brown to black;
Blue bill; Pale chin; Faint narrow bars
under wings and tail; Short legs; Square cut long tail.
Habitat: Woodland and shrub in arid to
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semi arid areas.
Distribution: Australia wide.
Call: Deep chattering or slow whining.
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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| © Anthony Katon |
© Mat & Cath Gilfedder |
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Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
Size: 35-50 cm; wingspan to 120 cm.
Distinguishing features: Robust;
Powerful flight; Stiff straight wings when
gliding; Black hood, head and cheeks;
Yellow and blue beak; Blue grey wings; Underparts cream with dark barring on belly; Yellow legs; Similar to |
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Australian Hobby.
Habitat: Most habitats, likes rocky cliffs and rocky coastal islands.
Distribution: Australia wide.
Call: Hoarse chatter, whining and clucking.
Considered to be world’s fastest animal.
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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Australian Hobby
Falco longipennis
Size: 30 – 36 cm
Distinguishing features: Slender with
long wings; Dark cap and mask; Whitish
half collar; Upper-side blue grey;
underside rufous (brown/orange) with dark streaks.
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Habitat: Woodland; scrub and urban.
Distribution: Australia wide.
Call: Rapid chatter; loud chuckling call.
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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Brown Falcon
Falco berigora
Size: 40 - 50 cm; wingspan to 120 cm.
Distinguishing features: Hovers
Unsteadily; Brown above with dark
markings below and behind eye;
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Underwings pale brown with bars; Thighs dark brown with long legs; Can be dark brown, brown or rufous; Similar to Nankeen Kestral.
Habitat: Everywhere except closed forest.
Distribution: Australia wide.
Call: Cackles and screeches.
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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Bird of Prey22 |
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Nankeen Kestral
Falco cenchroides
Size: 30 – 35 cm
Distinguishing features: Slender; Black
band near tail tip; Commonly found
perched on wires/posts/buildings; Dark
grey beak; Cere (light brown) yellow; Dark tear drop mark under eye; Grey head; Light grey bands on tail; Legs and feet are yellow; Similar to brown falcon.
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Habitat: Everywhere except closed forest.
Distribution: Australia wide.
Call: Excited chatter.
Ref: Simpson K. & Day N. “Field Guide to the Birds of Australia”
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