Haliastur sphenurus

General description: 

Similar to juvenile H. Indus but has longer P and tail. Female larger and heavier than male. Juvenile heavily streaked and spotted. Larger in S than in tropics.

Conservation status: 

Not Threatened.

Diagnostic description: 

Similar to juvenile H. Indus but has longer P and tail. Female larger and heavier than male. Juvenile heavily streaked and spotted. Larger in S than in tropics.

Behaviour: 

Size: 

51-59 cm, 380-1050 g, wingspan 123-146 cm

Phylogeny: 

Taxonomy:

    Milvus sphenurus Vieillot, 1818, New South Wales. Placed in genus Milvus by some authorities, but differs in plumage, voice and behaviour. Monotypic. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Distribution: 

Distribution:

    Australia, New Caledonia, and New Guinea (except NW and central mountains).
Habitat: 

Lightly wooded and open areas, tapically near or over terrestrial and marine wetlands, from sea-level to 1400 m. Nest in woodland, often riparian.

Trophic strategy: 

Variety of small animals and carrion, including mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, crustaceans, insect. Forages by quartering and high soaring.

Reproduction: 

Season long and variable, most of dry season in tropics, usually late winter nad spring in S. Solitary. Usually 2 eggs, incubation 35-38 days. Partly migratory and dispersive. NoT, CITES II. Common.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith