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Wedge-tailed EagleAlternate name(s): Misnomer: "Eaglehawk*" Aboriginal name(s): Race "audax":
"bilyara", "wallardoo", "cooradilla", "curawura"/"kurrawurra",
"kilpara", "koothalla", "neeyangarra", "otella", "walowoona"
"mullian"/"maliyan"/"mollyan", "nompie", "woorawa", "wulde"
[gamilaraay, yuwaalaraay];
"mibany" [bundjalung];
"gurrijala" [ngadjon];
"bunjil" [kulin];
"woldja", "warlitj", "warlik", "warbako", "yelka" (WA)
Size: 0.9-1.1 m; wing span 1.8-2.5 m Weight: 2-4 kg (male), 3-5.75 kg (female) |
Description
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
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 Click here for a physical description
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
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Click here for sighting information
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Photos |
Race "audax"
Not the photos you want? Or are you after even better quality? Have a
look here 
.
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ADULT |
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PAIR |
Pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles perched in the top of a dead tree
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Maules Creek, NSW, March 2013]
Wedge-tailed Eagles often hunt in pairs, one soaring higher than
the other
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2019]
Pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles gliding into a valley
[Springbrook NP,
Gold Coast, QLD, May 2014]
Sex unknown |
Near-lateral view of an a Wedge-tailed Eagle
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Roxby Downs, SA, June 2022]
Lateral view of an a Wedge-tailed Eagle
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]
Lateral view of an adult Wedge-tailed Eagle on red soil
(photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[June 2006]
Lateral view of a Wedge-tailed Eagle
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Boulia to Bedourie Road, QLD, July 2021]
Lateral/ventral view of a Wedge-tailed Eagle studying the observer
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Stanage Bay, QLD, July 2021]
Close-up lateral/ventral view of a Wedge-tailed Eagle
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2013]
Near-dorsal view of an a Wedge-tailed Eagle
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cunnamulla, QLD, August 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a Wedge-tailed Eagle
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Boulia to Bedourie Road, QLD, July 2021]
Near-dorsal view of an a Wedge-tailed Eagle
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]
Dorsal view of a Wedge-tailed Eagle looking backwards
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Boulia to Bedourie Road, QLD, July 2021]
Close-up dorsal view of a Wedge-tailed Eagle looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2023]
Frontal/ventral view of a Wedge-tailed Eagle in flight
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cunnamulla, QLD, August 2018]
Lateral view of an adult Wedge-tailed Eagle taking off from
its perch (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[June 2006]
Wedge-tailed Eagle taking off from its perch
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2013]
In some cases white spots at the base of a Wedge-tailed Eagle's
primaries can make it appear similar to a
Black-breasted Buzzard
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2013]
In some cases white spots at the base of a Wedge-tailed Eagle's
primaries can make it appear similar to a
Black-breasted Buzzard
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2013]
Soaring Wedge-tailed Eagle seen from straight underneath
[Leard State Forest, NSW, November 2014]
View from above, showing the upperwing pattern of a Wedge-tailed Eagle
[Near Tamworth, NSW, March 2012]
Wedge-tailed Eagle in flight (click on image to see what it had to
put up with) - the little speck is a White-breasted Woodswallow; note that
these photos were taken with 15x magnification (f=500 mm)!
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, January 2008]
Here a comparison of the wing shape when gliding (left) and soaring (right)
There are many who don't want "Wedgies" around - first
an Australian
Magpie...
[Near Bingara, NSW, September 2008]
...then an Australian
Raven
[Near Bingara, NSW, September 2008]
Sometimes whole packs of Australian Ravens are hot on the
heels of a Wedge-tailed Eagle
Comparison between a Wedge-tailed Eagle and a
White-bellied Sea-Eagle
[New Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, October 2018]
Frontal portrait of a Wedge-tailed Eagle in captivity (photo courtesy
of J. Thurmer)
Lateral portrait of a Wedge-tailed Eagle in captivity (photo courtesy of J. Thurmer)
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Adult Wedge-tailed Eagle, bottom right, with a juvenile
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Quilpie, QLD, September 2022]
Frontal view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, February 2018]
Near-frontal view of two immature Wedge-tailed Eagle in a dead tree
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2011]
Near-lateral view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle
[Near Quambone, NSW, April 2011]
Lateral view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle, here displaying
its underwing plumage
[Sturt NP, NSW,
September 2012]
Lateral view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, February 2018]
Lateral view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle
Close-up lateral view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle with
its inner eyelids closed
[Near Louth, NSW, March 2008]
The same juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle as above, now with its eyes open
[Near Louth, NSW, March 2008]
Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle in a dead tree
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2023]
Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle perched in a dead
tree (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Terry Hie Hie, NSW, March 2014]
Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle
[30 km SW of Gilgandra, NSW, December 2016]
Dorsal view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Boulia to Bedourie Road, QLD, July 2021]
Dorsal view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle spreading its wings - this
is the bird whose call
was recorded
[Mt. Kaputar NP,
NSW, April 2014]
Dorsal view of two juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagles perched low in a shrub;
note the golden-brown nape of the neck of the bird on the right
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Wyndham, WA, January 2016]
As usual, the two juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagles attracted lots
of attention (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Wyndham, WA, January 2016]
Dorsal view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle
[Sturt NP, NSW,
September 2012]
Even juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagles can attract a lot of attention
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2022]
Frontal view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2022]
Frontal view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle in flight
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Sheep Station Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2019]
Close-up ventral view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle
[Goran Lake, NSW, May 2011]
Soaring juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle
[Goran Lake, NSW, June 2011]
Close-up ventral view of a first-year Wedge-tailed Eagle
(photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, August 2016]
Wedge-tailed Eagle dropping a "bomb"...
[Near Narrabri, NSW, September 2016]
"High-flyers"
Below a rough estimate of the altitude at which a Wedge-tailed Eagle was observed: Assuming that the airplane was flying at 10000 m altitude (33000 ft), based on its length of 70.6 m and the eagle's length of ca. 1 m, one can estimate from the relative apparent sizes that the eagle was seen at an altitude of roughly 800 m. The uncertainty in the length of the bird and the altitude of the airplane is about ±10%, making the total uncertainty of the bird's altitude about ±20%.
These two photos give an estimate of how high a "Wedgy" can fly; Wedge-tailed Eagle at 15x magnification (left) and, on the same scale, a Boeing 747-400 at cruising altitude (right)
Race "fleayi"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Near-frontal view of an a Wedge-tailed Eagle in flight
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Queen Elizabeth Track, Bruny Island, TAS, April 2021]
Near-lateral view of an a Wedge-tailed Eagle in flight
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Queen Elizabeth Track, Bruny Island, TAS, April 2021]
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Jun - Aug | Eggs: 1 - 3 | Incubation period: 45 days | Fledging age: ca. 70 days |
The breeding season depends significantly on geographical latitude. In the tropical north Wedge-tailed Eagles breed Jan - Feb. Although there can be up to 3 eggs, normally only one, sometimes two chicks survive.
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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, lined with fresh leaves | Height above ground: 5 - 20 m |
The nest will start relatively small and grow in size with time, up to a total weight of about one tonne. Therefore, Wedge-tailed Eagles choose the strongest forks available in the tallest suitable tree they can find.
Wedge-tailed Eagle's nest in the only tree worth its name in
several square kilometres
[Flinders Ranges
NP, SA, March 2008]
Closer view of a different Wedge-tailed Eagles' nest in the same
part of the Flinders Ranges, about 10 km from the one shown above
[Flinders Ranges
NP, SA, March 2008]
Wedge-tailed Eagles' nest (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Near Carmel Lagoon, Coonamble Road, NSW, 1980ies]
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Additional information |
A. Morris reports that some bird species, most notably Diamond Firetails, Zebra Finches and Red-browed Finches, like to take advantage of the protection offered by nesting under a Wedge-tailed Eagle nest. There is now a separate page about various bird species nesting under the umbrella of a stronger, protective species.
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
| Size: 75 x 58 mm | Colour: Light-brown, heavily speckled with darker brown speckles | Shape: Tapered oval |
View over the edge of a Wedge-tailed Eagles' nest with two
eggs inside (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Near Carmel Lagoon, Coonamble Road, NSW, 1980ies]
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Territorial | Mobility: Sedentary | Elementary unit: Pair |
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Additional information |
For a Wedge-tailed Eagle it is usually not a good idea to fly low past an Australian Magpie nest. There is a short page describing such an unpleasant experience.
Some species of eagle are so heavy that they cannot take off from
flat ground; Wedge-tailed Eagles do manage, but when they lift off
from the "Road Kill Restaurant" they have only two ways to go, of
which one is usually prohibited by the prevailing wind - which can
leave little room for road users to get out of their way...
[Thargomindah to Hungerford Road, QLD, June 2019]
Wedge-tailed Eagle in a steep bank, which is part of an aerial
display in a territorial dispute
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2019]
6 of in total 20 juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagles in flight
in what appeared to be a rookery
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Sheep Station Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2019]
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Food, Diet |
| Adults: Mammals, carrion | Dependents: As adults | Water intake: None |
All raptors are carnivores. Wedge-tailed Eagles prey on animals as large as (young) kangaroos. They also scavenge on carrion, e.g. roadkill. The photo below indicates that immature birds start with smaller prey. They have been seen by us competing with adult Whistling Kites.
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.
Australia does not have any vultures. The Wedge-tailed Eagle fills that void in the ecosystem. Together with ants and Whistling Kites they dispose of dead bodies.
Shaggy-looking Wedge-tailed Eagle on a kangaroo carcass
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Stuart Highway, north of Newcastle Waters, NT, September 2021]
Lateral view of a Wedge-tailed Eagle annoyed by the presence of
some corvids, in this case most likely all
Australian Ravens
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Boulia to Bedourie Road, QLD, July 2021]
Lateral view of a Wedge-tailed Eagle devouring its prey, before the
Australian Ravens
get it all
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Boulia to Bedourie Road, QLD, July 2021]
Lateral view of a Wedge-tailed Eagle devouring its prey, before the
Australian Ravens
get it all
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Boulia to Bedourie Road, QLD, July 2021]
Early morning clean-up: Two of a total of five Wedge-tailed Eagles
seen near roadkill (in this case a young kangaroo); in the absence
of vultures on the Australian continent, Wedge-tailed Eagles fill
that ecological niche
[Sturt NP, NSW,
September 2012]
Lateral view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle claiming its meal
[Sturt NP, NSW,
September 2012]
Wedge-tailed Eagle with a large piece of carrion
(photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Near Alice Springs, NT, June 2005]
Wedge-tailed Eagle carrying away its prey
[Near Gunnedah, NSW, August 2012]
This Wedge-tailed Eagle is taking a careless hare on its final journey
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, December 2014]
Wedge-tailed Eagle taking part in feral pest control by taking a
cat, most likely a kitten
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bedourie, QLD, August 2022]
Wedge-tailed Eagle ripping into its prey, a cat, most likely a kitten
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bedourie, QLD, August 2022]
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement 
are welcome.
| wedgy_20190611.m4a |
audax (NW NSW) |
"Yelping" calls (adults); settling territorial dispute |
© MD | |
| wedgy_20180516.m4a |
audax (NW NSW) |
? (Adult) | © MD | |
| wedgy_20140402_2.mp3 |
audax (NW NSW) |
Annoyed? (Immature in-flight) | © MD | |
| wedgy_20190228.m4a |
audax (NW NSW) |
Begging calls (dependent juvenile) | © MD | |
| wedgy_20190228_4.m4a |
audax (NW NSW) |
Begging calls (dependent juvenile) | © MD |
More Wedge-tailed Eagle sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.