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Brahminy KiteAlternate name(s): "Red-backed Sea Eagle", "White-headed Sea Eagle", "Rufous-backed Sea Eagle", "Salmon-hawk", "Rufous-backed Fish-hawk", "Red-backed Kite" ![]() Size: 45 cm (male), 50 cm (female); wing span 1.1-1.3 m Weight: 490-610 g (male), 580-675 g (female) |
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Photos |
Race "girrenera"
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ADULT |
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PAIR |
Lateral view of a pair of Brahminy Kites
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Daintree River, QLD, December 2018]
Pair of Brahminy Kites seen on stakes, waiting for the
photographer to clear out
[Near Old Bar, NSW, June 2011]
Sex unknown |
Close-up frontal view of a Brahminy Kite
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Daintree River, QLD, December 2018]
Close-up frontal view of a Brahminy Kite
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Daintree River, QLD, December 2018]
Frontal view of a Brahminy Kite
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Fraser Island, QLD, September 2018]
Frontal view of a Brahminy Kite
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Pioneer Cemetery, Cairns, QLD, July 2020]
Close-up near-frontal view of a Brahminy Kite
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Daintree River, QLD, December 2018]
Near-frontal view of a Brahminy Kite
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Fraser Island, QLD, September 2018]
Near-frontal view of a Brahminy Kite
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Caloundra, QLD, August 2017]
Near-lateral view of a Brahminy Kite
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Daintree River, QLD, July 2018]
Near-lateral/ventral view of a Brahminy Kite
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, April 2018]
Lateral view of a Brahminy Kite with its outer eye-lid open, left,
and the eye-lid closed, right (photos courtesy of P. Brown)
[Near Dripstone Cliffs, Darwin, NT, December 2017]
Near-dorsal view of a Brahminy Kite
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Buffalo Creek, Darwin, NT, July 2020]
Close-up lateral portrait of a Brahminy Kite seen from behind
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Daintree River, QLD, April 2019]
Dorsal view of a Brahminy Kite looking back at the observer
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Marmor, QLD, August 2023]
Dorsal view of a Brahminy Kite looking over its shoulder
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Daintree River, QLD, July 2018]
Frontal view of a Brahminy Kite in flight
[Limeburners
Creek NP, NSW, October 2013]
Brahminy Kite soaring in an updraft
[Limeburners
Creek NP, NSW, October 2013]
This Brahminy Kite is controlling the lift of its wings by partly
folding them
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]
Near-lateral/ventral view of a Brahminy Kite in flight
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, July 2020]
Lateral view of a Brahminy Kite in flight
[Limeburners
Creek NP, NSW, October 2013]
Lateral view from above onto the upperwing pattern of a
Brahminy Kite in flight
[Limeburners
Creek NP, NSW, October 2013]
Different phase of the wing beat
[Limeburners
Creek NP, NSW, October 2013]
Lateral view of a Brahminy Kite in flight
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Kakadu NP,
NT, July 2020]
Brahminy Kite just after takeoff; note the particularly long
upper mandible of this raptor
[Bundjalung NP,
NSW, February 2012]
Lateral/ventral view of a Brahminy Kite in flight
[Limeburners
Creek NP, NSW, October 2013]
Near-dorsal view of a Brahminy Kite in flight
[Limeburners
Creek NP, NSW, October 2013]
Dorsal view from above onto the upperwing pattern of a
Brahminy Kite in flight
[Limeburners
Creek NP, NSW, October 2013]
On an overcast day the underwings of a Brahminy Kite
can appear to be darker (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, January 2018]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Near-frontal/ventral view of a young Brahminy Kite; part
of its plumage
is still juvenile [note the dark ear coverts], while the
chestnut belly/vent/undertail are indicative of first
immature plumage
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, July 2012]
Dorsal/ventral view of a juvenile Brahminy Kite in flight
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Jingili Water Gardens, Darwin, NT, March 2020]
Dorsal/ventral view of a juvenile Brahminy Kite in flight
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Jingili Water Gardens, Darwin, NT, March 2020]
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: Apr - Nov | Eggs: 1 - 2 | Incubation period: 26 - 27 days | Fledging age: 50 - 60 days |
We list here the breeding season of Brahminy Kites in Australia. It depends significantly on geographical latitude. In the tropical North, Brahminy Kites breed after the wet season, in April - July. Farther southward, they breed in spring, in August - November.
Nest building: Female & male | Incubation: Female (& male) | Dependent care: Female & male |
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Twitcher's tip |
Note that, by the time they fledge (i.e., leave their nest), the young of all species of raptors - apart from the tail and wing feathers (which are still growing) - are already full adult-size.
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
Type: Basket | Material: Sticks, grass, seaweed | Height above ground: <10? m |
Specializing in hunting near water, Brahminy Kites usually also nest in tall trees near or in water, preferably on the seaward side of mangroves.
(Presumably female) Brahminy Kite on its nest
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Pioneer Cemetery, Cairns, QLD, August 2020]
Lateral view of a Brahminy Kite near its nest
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Pioneer Cemetery, Cairns, QLD, August 2020]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
Size: 52 x 41 mm | Colour: Off-white, with faint creamy speckles | Shape: Tapered oval |
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: Territorial | Mobility: Sedentary | Elementary unit: Solitary/pair |
Similar to some other species of raptors, Brahminy Kites can
sometimes be seen to hunt in pairs
[Limeburners
Creek NP, NSW, October 2013]
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Food, Diet |
Adults: Dead fish, carrion | Dependents: As adults | Water intake: None |
All raptors are carnivores. Brahminy Kites feed on small fish and occasionally other small animals. They also scavenge on carrion.
During the first few weeks, raptors feed their chicks with pieces of meat. Later on in their development, the chicks learn to tear apart their parents' prey.