Wedge-tailed Eagle

About the Wedge-tailed Eagle
Also known as: Eaglehawk
Wedge-tailed Eagle
The Wedge-tailed Eagle is a very large type of raptor found in Australia and New Guinea. The species is the largest bird of prey found in Australia. It is also known as the Eaglehawk.

The Wedge-tailed Eagle is named for its uniquely-shaped wedge tail. It can be recognized by this feature, its very large size, and by its fully-feathered legs.

Wedge-tailed Eagles are opportunistic predators, with a wide variety of prey items. They have been known to hunt rabbits and other introduced species of mammal, as well as wallabies, kangaroos, koalas, bandicoots, and more. Wedge-tailed Eagles will also readily feed on carrion when it is available.
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Details & Statistics

Conservation

The Wedge-tailed Eagle is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and was last assessed in 2012 by BirdLife International. This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is very large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

International Names

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Related Articles

2015 Bonanza Bird #6: Wedge-tailed Eagle

Today our Birdorable Bonanza: 2015 Advent Edition continues with the largest bird of prey found in Australia, the Wedge-tailed Eagle! Wedge-tailed Eagles are named for the unique shape of their tails. Across their range, which includes all of mainland Australia as well...  Read more »