Wedge-Tailed Eagle Chick
Aquila audux

click here to see an adult Wedge-Tailed Eagle

 

Click here to see an eagle up close

 

other name

Eaglehawk

 

DESCRIPTION

Adults: Largest of the Australian eagles. Vary in colour from black to dark brown or golden brown (also known as blonde). Desert or western eagles tend to be darker than coastal eagles. There is a paler band of feathers across wings and sometimes across nape. Large white to cream coloured beak with hooked end. Feet are similar colour to beak, with huge black talons. Legs are totally feathered. Females are larger than males - with females varying from 3.5 to 4.5kg and males varying from 2.5 to 3.5kg. Approximate height is 1.5 metres for females and 90cm to 1 metre for males. Wing span around 2.5 metres in length.

 

Juveniles: appear similar but are often paler in colour and more golden or rufous.

 

Voice: Often silent, but vocal in breeding season. Usually a wavering, high, rising whistle leading into a short, lower descening note "tsIET-you, tsIET-you". Also a hoarse, drawn out help that rises to a short, scratchy squeal, and a long scream, perhaps when alarmed.

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The Wedge-Tailed Eagle is the largest Australian raptor (bird of prey) with a wing span up to 2.5 meters from tip to tip.  It has a wedge shaped tail, which gives it it's name. It is fairly common throughout Australia and likes open plains and mountains.  The eagle sometimes preys on animals such as reptiles, rabbits and wallabies, but is more often than not unsuccessful when swooping on live prey due to its bulky size.  The main diet of the Wedge-Tailed Eagle is carrion (eg: road kill).   The breeding period is from June to October, and it has a huge nest, often like a platform which is made with sticks and lined with leaves, which are replaced regularly during breeding.  It lays between 1 and 3 eggs, often with only 1 fledgling reaching maturity.  Incubation is about 45 days by the female.