Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)

Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)

Image by Stephen Michael Barnett from Adelaide, Australia - Some rights reserved. (view image details)

Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus, calling. Mary River, Northern Territory, Australia. 8 August 2010.

Image by Lip Kee Yap from Singapore, Republic of Singapore - Some rights reserved. (view image details)

Whistling Kite at Alice Springs Desert Park

Image by Richard Fisher from London, UK - License: by-2.0. (view image details)

Whistling Kite at Featherdale Wildlife Park, Doonside, Sydney, Australia.

Image by Peter Gaylard from Australia - Some rights reserved. (view image details)

WHISTLING KITE FACTS

Description
The Whistling Kite is a medium sized bird of prey. It has light brown head and underparts, with pale streaks, and dark sandy-brown wings with paler undersides

Size
55cm, wingspan of 120 cm to 145 cm

Habitat
woodlands, open country, wetlands, farmland

Food
mammals, birds, fish and insects, also carrion

Breeding
bulky nest platform is built of sticks in a tall tree. Lays 1-3 eggs.

Range
Whistling Kites are widespread over mainland Australia

distribution map showing range of Haliastur sphenurus in Australia

distribution map showing range of Haliastur sphenurus in Australia

Credits:
Map is from Atlas of Living Australia website at https://biocache.ala.org.au licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Classification

Class:	Aves
Order:	Falconiformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Haliastur
Species:	sphenurus
Common Name:	Whistling Kite

Relatives in same Genus
Brahminy Kite (H. indus)