Hieraaetus morphnoides
The Little Eagle is a small, powerful stocky eagle, with a short broad head and moderately long tail, square-cut at the tip when closed. The legs are heavily feathered. When perched, the Little Eagle has a short crest. Plumage varies from light to dark brown, with a pale broken 'M' across the upperparts, which is visible from a distance. There is also a pale M-shaped band on the underwing. It has long broad wings, spanning over 1m, with dark 'fingered' tips. It soars in tight circles, very high on thermals or up-draughts, gliding on flat wings. The female is larger than the male. The Little Eagle's flight pattern - soaring in tight circles with flat wings - is distinctive. The underwing 'M' pattern is diagnostic, as are the long, broad wings. Very vocal, especially when breeding, with whistles, chatters, whines and squeals.
Not Threatened.
The Little Eagle is a small, powerful stocky eagle, with a short broad head and moderately long tail, square-cut at the tip when closed. The legs are heavily feathered. When perched, the Little Eagle has a short crest. Plumage varies from light to dark brown, with a pale broken 'M' across the upperparts, which is visible from a distance. There is also a pale M-shaped band on the underwing. It has long broad wings, spanning over 1m, with dark 'fingered' tips. It soars in tight circles, very high on thermals or up-draughts, gliding on flat wings. The female is larger than the male. The Little Eagle's flight pattern - soaring in tight circles with flat wings - is distinctive. The underwing 'M' pattern is diagnostic, as are the long, broad wings. Very vocal, especially when breeding, with whistles, chatters, whines and squeals.
The Little Eagle is a small, powerful stocky eagle, with a short broad head and moderately long tail, square-cut at the tip when closed.
Taxonomy:
- Aquila morphnoïdes Gould, 1841, Hunter River, New South Wales. Genus sometimes merged with Aquila, but kept separate by most modern authorities. Two subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * weiskei (Reichenow, 1900) - New Guinea. * morphnoides (Gould, 1841) - Australia.
is seen over woodland and forested lands and open country, extending into the arid zone. It tends to avoid rainforest and heavy forest.
searches for prey on the wing or from a high exposed perch, taking prey from the ground, the shrub layer or the canopy. Prey includes rabbits, other live mammals and insects.
nest in mature living trees in open woodland or tree-lined watercourses. They rarely nest in isolated trees. The nest is an open bowl of twigs and branches, lined with green leaves. The female mainly broods the young and feeds the young small pieces of food bill to bill. The male hunts for food for the young. The male will incubate while the female eats the food he has brought for her.