Aquila audax
The Wedge-tailed Eagle, Aquila audax, is a magnificent and formidable raptor, renowned as Australia's largest bird of prey and one of the largest eagles in the world. Adults display a striking dark brown to black plumage, often with a conspicuous golden to reddish-brown nape and hindneck feathers that contrast with their darker body. Reaching lengths of 90-110 cm and boasting an impressive wingspan of 1.8-2.8 meters, females typically outweigh males, ranging from 3 to 6 kg, while males are sl...
Found across a diverse range of habitats, from arid deserts and open grasslands to alpine regions and eucalyptus woodlands, avoiding only dense rainforest. It is present from sea level to high mountainous elevations.
Their diet is highly varied, consisting primarily of medium-sized mammals (rabbits, wallabies, kangaroos), large birds, and reptiles; they are also significant scavengers of carrion.
Wedge-tailed Eagles are diurnal, spending much of the day soaring effortlessly on thermals, often at great heights, scanning for prey. They are opportunistic hunters, employing a variety of foraging strategies including high-altitude stoops, ground pounces, and even cooperative hunting to take do...
The Wedge-tailed Eagle boasts an extensive breeding and year-round distribution across mainland Australia, including Tasmania, and extends northward into southern New Guinea. It is a resident species throughout this vast range, with little to no seasonal migration; however, juvenile birds exhibit...
Least Concern
- The Wedge-tailed Eagle is Australia's largest raptor and one of the largest eagles globally. - They are one of the few raptors known to hunt cooperatively, with pairs or small groups working together to capture large prey like kangaroos. - Their enormous nests, built of sticks, can be over two ...