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6

Square-tailed Kite

(Lophoictinia isura)
Aboriginal name(s): "mararl", "djedurnmalak" (WA)
Size: 50-55 cm; wing span 1.3-1.45 m
Weight: 500-680 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Square-tailed Kite at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

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]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Nov Eggs: 2 - 3 Incubation period: 40 days Fledging age: ca. 63 days

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

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]

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]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Dispersive Elementary unit: Solitary

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]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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