Wedge-tailed eagle

About

The wedge-tailed eagle is Australia's largest bird of prey, with a wingspan of up to 2.84 metres. Once persecuted as a livestock threat, it is now widespread and secure across virtually every Australian habitat from desert to alpine woodland.

How to spot it

Unmistakable in flight: a huge dark raptor with a long, diamond-shaped tail, often seen soaring high on thermals over open or rocky country. Adults are blackish-brown with tawny-rufous hackles on the neck; juveniles are paler and more rufous. Despite its size, its call is a surprisingly thin, high whistle.

Found in

• Kosciuszko National Park
• Alpine National Park
• Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park
• Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park
• Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
• Kakadu National Park
• Blue Mountains National Park
• Warrumbungle National Park
• Karijini National Park
• Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park