Whistling Kite

Haliastur sphenurus

A ‘scruffy’ bird of prey, with a diverse diet and able to thrive in a wide range of habitats, the whistling kite is native to Australia. It is also found on some of the nearby South Pacific islands and island groups, but does not occur outside of this particular region.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Whistling Kite is a medium-sized raptor with distinctive pale brown plumage. Its wings are long and broad, with pale 'windows' visible in flight and a long, rounded tail. The head is lighter than the body, often appearing almost white.

Their legs are short, featherless, and horn-coloured. Their beak is short and grey, with a distinctive hooked tip, and their eyes are black.

Juveniles have streaked underparts and darker overall colouration. There is little difference between males and females in plumage, though females may be up to 42 percent larger. The bird's appearance remains consistent year-round.

Size

Length

50cm to 60cm

Wingspan

123cm to 146cm

Weight

380g to 1.05kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown

Secondary Colour

White Cream

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Whistling Kite can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Whistling Kite is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Whistling Kite can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Whistling Kite can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Whistling Kite is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Whistling Kite is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Whistling Kite can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Whistling Kite is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Whistling Kite is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Whistling Kite is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Whistling Kite is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Whistling Kite can be found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Whistling Kites are found across Australia, New Guinea, and parts of Indonesia. They inhabit a wide range of environments, including woodlands, wetlands, grasslands, and coastal areas. These adaptable birds are particularly common near water bodies.

In Australia, they are widespread, occurring in all states and territories. Their distribution may shift seasonally, with some birds moving to coastal areas or towards the north during winter months.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 1,400 meters

Climate zones

Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Whistling Kite. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons