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Little Eagle

(Hieraaetus morphnoides)
Size: 45-55 cm; wing span 1.1-1.35 m

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Little Eagles populate the entire Australian continent, except Tasmania. In the most arid parts of the continent they are only found when there is enough prey, i.e. usually after substantial rainfalls.

Little Eagles hunt mostly above open woodland and scrub, including e.g. paddocks with remnant tree populations.

Sightings

In December 2008 a bird with light morphology was spotted by us 10 km east of Narrabri, NSW.

Seen again 20 km south of Walgett, NSW, in April 2009.

Once we knew how to identify the species, various sightings followed in the Narrabri area, including in the township.

In mid-October 2011 a single bird was spotted soaring above Round Swamp, a natural lake about 25 km west of Narrabri, NSW.

Photos

Light morphology

Little Eagle soaring

Frontal view of a Little Eagle

Little Eagle hovering

Little Eagle seen from underneath (click on image to see how a White-breasted Woodswallow is harassing the bird)

Food

All raptors are carnivores. Little Eagles prey on mammals up to the size of possums and birds up to the size of ducks.

These pages are largely based on our own observations. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.