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Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) Alternate 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 Body mass: 2-4 kg (male), 3-5.75 kg (female) Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.56-0.93

Australia: Family Group 6 Family Group 6 Table Osprey Brahminy Kite Whistling Kite Little Eagle Black Kite Square-tailed Kite Black-breasted Buzzard Wedge-tailed Eagle White-bellied Sea-Eagle Spotted Harrier Swamp Harrier Black-shouldered Kite Letter-winged Kite Pacific Baza Collared Sparrowhawk Brown Goshawk Grey Goshawk Red Goshawk Nankeen Kestrel Australian Hobby Peregrine Falcon Brown Falcon Grey Falcon Black Falcon Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description Wedge-tailed Eagles are the largest Australian birds of prey. Their plumage is almost all dark-brown. Only the bases of the underwing flight feathers show a hint of grey and the wing coverts are a much lighter shade of brown than the rest of the back. Their irises are brown. The grey bill is surrounded by a mask of bare pink facial skin. The legs are covered with feathers, the feet are grey, with dark-grey talons. The wedge-shaped tail gives the species its name. First-year Wedge-tailed Eagles have a light-brown head, neck and upperwing and underwing coverts. Over the first 4-5 years the amount of lighter-coloured feathers decreases, until they moult into adult plumage.

Taxonomy, classification See Wedge-tailed Eagle at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Wedge-tailed Eagle is available HERE . Wedge-tailed Eagles are endemic to Australia. Race "audax" inhabits most of the Australian continent. The only exception is basically the most arid part of Australia, i.e. the great sandy deserts in the eastern half of WA. They are uncommon in the central part of the NT, South of the Gulf of Carpentaria and on Cape York peninsula. Race "fleayi" is endemic to Tasmania, King Island and Flinders Island. Wedge-tailed Eagles hunt in most inland habitats of Australia, except dense forest (such as rainforest). As carrion scavengers they are particularly well-adapted to life in semi-arid and arid environments. Where to look? How to find this species? "Wedgies" can sometimes be found sitting on or near roadkill (see photos below). At other times one may find them perched in trees, often near roadsides. They can also often be spotted when riding thermals, looking for prey. Their shape is the "prototypical" profile of a raptor - wide wingspan, slow - if any - wing movement. Often a mob of other birds harassing a Wedge-tailed Eagle is what draws an observer's attention in the first place. The shape of the tail, with a central tip, is a good identifier (although there is some ambiguity because the tail of a White-bellied Sea-Eagle is also wedge-shaped).

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "audax" Wedge-tailed Eagles, race "audax", are quite common in the Narrabri region, in north-western NSW. We see them, mostly in pairs, quite regularly, either perched in treetops or sitting on their prey on the ground. But most often they are seen soaring at great heights. Wedge-tailed Eagles, race "audax", are seen by us in a variety of geographical areas, i.e., in the plains, on the slopes and in the hills of the Great Dividing Range. They were found by us in various locations on trips into the outback (NSW and SA) in March 2008 and September 2012. Again, they were found by us in both hill country and open plains. R. Plumtree reports spotting Wedge-tailed Eagles, race "audax", in the area of Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, occasionally. In September 2019 a congregation of up to 20 individuals was observed in what appeared to be a rookery. J. Greaves reports spotting a Wedge-tailed Eagle, race "audax", at Albany, WA, in March 2015, and at Wyndham, WA, in January 2016. They were also spotted at Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, in August 2016. M. Mearns reports spotting a Wedge-tailed Eagle, race "audax", near Alice Springs, NT, in June 2005, and in various locations in central western QLD in September 2019. M. Eaton reports finding Wedge-tailed Eagles, race "audax", regularly in the Australian Outback, in QLD, the NT, NSW and SA. C. Pears found a Wedge-tailed Eagle, race "audax", at the Broome Bird Observatory, Broome, WA, in June 2025. Race "fleayi" M. Eaton reports finding a Wedge-tailed Eagle, race "fleayi", above the Queen Elizabeth Track, Bruny Island, TAS, in April 2021.

Photos

Race "audax"

ADULT

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 a Wedge-tailed Eagle (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Roxby Downs, SA, June 2022]

Close-up lateral view of a Wedge-tailed Eagle (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Diamantina Developmental Road, QLD, August 2025]

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]

Close-up lateral view of a Wedge-tailed Eagle looking back (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Diamantina Developmental Road, QLD, August 2025]

Near-dorsal view of 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]

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a Wedge-tailed Eagle in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2025]

Lateral view of an adult Wedge-tailed Eagle taking off from its perch (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[June 2006]

Lateral view of a Wedge-tailed Eagle taking off from its perch
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2013]

Near-dorsal view of a Wedge-tailed Eagle just after take-off
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2013]

Near-dorsal view of a Wedge-tailed Eagle just after take-off
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2013]

Ventral view of a soaring Wedge-tailed Eagle
[Leard State Forest, NSW, November 2014]

View from above onto the upperwing pattern of a Wedge-tailed Eagle
[Near Tamworth, NSW, March 2012]

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]

"Spaceship 1" under attack from a Little Friarbird and an Australian Magpie
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2024]

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)

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-lateral view of an immature Wedge-tailed Eagle; note the dark cap
[Near Quambone, NSW, April 2011]

Near-lateral/ventral view of two immature Wedge-tailed Eagles
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2011]

Close-up lateral view of an immature Wedge-tailed Eagle (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eyre Developmental Road, QLD, June 2025]

Adult Wedge-tailed Eagle, bottom right, with a juvenile (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Quilpie, QLD, September 2022]

Full-frontal view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle; note the rust-coloured cap (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eyre Developmental Road, QLD, August 2025]

Frontal view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC, February 2018]

Frontal view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eyre Developmental Road, QLD, August 2025]

Lateral view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle looking at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eyre Developmental Road, QLD, August 2025]

Lateral view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eyre Developmental Road, QLD, August 2025]

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]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2023]

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]

Near-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]

Close-up ventral view of a first-year Wedge-tailed Eagle (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, August 2016]

Ventral view of a Wedge-tailed Eagle dropping a "bomb" from great height...
[Near Narrabri, NSW, September 2016]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle taking off (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Diamantina Developmental Road, QLD, August 2025]

"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"

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]

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.

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

"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]

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.

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]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Pair

Wedge-tailed Eagles are "massive units". This means that, despite their enormous wings, they still have high "wing loading" (i.e., ratio of body mass over wing surface area). In practice, this is why a Wedge-tailed Eagle has problems taking off from the ground in flat country (and much of inland Australia is flat). When they lift off from the "Road Kill Restaurant", because of fringe growth and/or fences along the road, they have only two ways to go, one of which is often prohibited by the prevailing wind. This can, on occasion, leave little room for road users to get out of their way...

Juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle feasting on a carcass - note the already extended crop (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Between Boulia and Bedourie, QLD, July 2026]

There goes another chunk of fresh meat - take-off will be a problem; not only will the bird be heavy, but also top-heavy
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Between Boulia and Bedourie, QLD, July 2026]

Wedge-tailed Eagle's laboured take-off from an Outback dirt road
[Thargomindah to Hungerford Road, QLD, June 2019]

Distant lateral view of a 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]

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.

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 juvenile Wedge-tailed Eagle on a kangaroo carcass (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eyre Developmental Road, QLD, June 2025]

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]

Dorsal/ventral view of a 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]

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 .

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.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.