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SPECIES PROFILE
Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax)
Aquila
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Mainland Australia and Tasmania
DIET
Carnivorous
HABITAT
Open woodlands, grasslands, deserts, mountainous regions
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Accipitriformes
FAMILY
Accipitridae
GENUS
Aquila
📋 Description
SIZE
1 meter long, wingspan 1.8-2.3 meters; 2-5.8 kg
COLORATION
Dark brown to black, lighter nape/wings in juveniles; wedge-shaped tail
ADAPTATIONS
Powerful talons and beak for hunting, exceptional eyesight
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Open woodlands, grasslands, deserts, mountainous regions
DIET
Carnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Mainland Australia and Tasmania
REPRODUCTION
Lays 1-3 eggs in large stick nests, incubated 45 days; eaglets fledge 2-3 months
DIET DETAILS
Feeds on mammals (rabbits, kangaroos), birds, carrion
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Habitat clearing, pest control poisoning, vehicle collisions
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Mated Displays: Lifelong pairs perform aerial courtship, locking talons in mid-air dives over Kakadu’s rockfaces, maintaining 100 km² territories. These nests, reused for decades in Blue Mountains, symbolize their reign, though poisoning threatens their 20,000-strong population.
2
Sky Sovereigns: Australia’s largest raptor, the wedge-tailed eagle soars 2 km high, spotting rabbits 5 km away with talons crushing at 400 psi in Flinders Ranges. Their 2.3-meter wings dominate skies, scavenging 10 kg of carrion weekly, sustaining thousands across vast territories.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Flinders Ranges National Park in South Australia has Wilpena Pound near roads for eagle sightings
Kakadu National Park in Northern Territory features Nourlangie Rock for eagle hunting and perching
Blue Mountains National Park in New South Wales has Echo Point Katoomba above valleys for eagle sightings
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
April-October. Dry season enhances visibility in open skies for soaring.
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Scan Wilpena Pound cliffs, Nourlangie Rock cliffs, or Echo Point Cliffs at midday to see eagles soaring.
