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Square-tailed Kite![]() Size: 50-55 cm; wing span 1.3-1.45 m Weight: 500-680 g |
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Similar |
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Photos |
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of an adult Square-tailed Kite
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, July 2017]
Frontal view of a Square-tailed Kite - a stare that,
as potential prey, one may want to avoid being subjected to...
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, July 2017]
Near-lateral view of a Square-tailed Kite displaying
its crest
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, July 2017]
Near-lateral view of a Square-tailed Kite displaying its crest,
now with its head turned
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, July 2017]
Lateral view of a Square-tailed Kite
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2013]
The same Square-tailed Kite as shown above, now with its head turned
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2013]
Frontal/ventral view of a Square-tailed Kite in flight
[Narrabri, NSW, September 2018]
Near-frontal/ventral view of a Square-tailed Kite in flight
[Narrabri, NSW, September 2018]
Near-lateral/ventral view of a Square-tailed Kite in flight
[Narrabri, NSW, September 2018]
Near-lateral/ventral view of a Square-tailed Kite in flight
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, March 2013]
Lateral view of a Square-tailed Kite in flight
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Anstead, QLD, May 2020]
Lateral view of a Square-tailed Kite in flight
[Narrabri, NSW, September 2018]
Lateral/ventral view of a Square-tailed Kite in flight, with
its inner eyelid closed
[Narrabri, NSW, September 2018]
Square-tailed Kite being harassed by
Little Corellas
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, July 2017]
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: Aug - Nov | Eggs: 2 - 3 | Incubation period: 40 days | Fledging age: ca. 63 days |
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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.
Nest building: ? | Incubation: Female | Dependent care: Female & male |
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
Type: Basket | Material: Sticks, eucalypt leaf lining | Height above ground: 10 - 30 m |
Square-tailed Kite on its nest
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dayboro, QLD, November 2019]
Overview of a Square-tailed Kite on its massive nest
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dayboro, QLD, November 2019]
Two mature Square-tailed Kite chicks on their nest
(photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Near Baradine, NSW, 1980ies]
Two mature Square-tailed Kite chicks on their nest, with a honeyeater
as prey (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Near Baradine, NSW, 1980ies]
Location of the Square-tailed Kite nest shown above, high up in an
eucalypt
(photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Near Baradine, NSW, 1980ies]
Female Square-tailed Kite on its nest near Baradine, NSW
(photo courtesy of L. Cutts)
[Near Baradine, NSW]
View from a pair of Square-tailed Kites' aerie into the
Pilliga scrub;
this photo was taken from a different nest compared to above
(photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Near Baradine, NSW, 1980ies]
Two mature Square-tailed Kite chicks in the nest with the view
shown immediately above (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Near Baradine, NSW, 1980ies]
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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 38 mm | Colour: Creamy, speckled & streaked mid-brown | Shape: Tapered oval |
Two eggs in a Square-tailed Kite nest (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Near Baradine, NSW, 1980ies]
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: Territorial | Mobility: Dispersive | Elementary unit: Solitary |
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Food, Diet |
All raptors are carnivores. In addition to other prey, Square-tailed Kites take nestlings of smaller bird species, especially of various species of honeyeaters.
Square-tailed Kite ripping apart its prey, which looks grey and furry
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, July 2017]
Square-tailed Kite devouring its prey
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, July 2017]