Australian Birds of Prey – List of Aussie Raptors

A Peregrine Falcon folds its wings and drops out of the sky at more than 300km/h. No other animal on Earth moves faster. It’s one of around 25 species of Australian birds of prey that hunt by day, from huge Eagles to Falcons small enough to hover over a paddock.

Birds of prey, also called raptors or raptor birds, are hunters built for the job: hooked beaks, sharp talons and eyesight far better than ours. Australia’s line-up includes powerful Eagles, swift Falcons, Hawks, Harriers and hovering Kites, spread across the outback, forests and coast.

As apex hunters, they play a key role in keeping nature balanced, holding numbers of rodents, rabbits, insects and other prey in check. Here’s who’s who, and how to tell them apart when one sails overhead.

List of Australian Birds of Prey

Raptors are among the most impressive Native Australian animals, and they come in four main groups.

Eagles and Sea-Eagles

• Wedge-tailed Eagle: Australia’s largest bird of prey, with an unmistakable wedge-shaped tail.
• White-bellied Sea-Eagle: A large coastal hunter with a white belly and chest that takes fish and waterbirds.
• Little Eagle: Small and compact, in pale and dark forms.

Falcons

• Peregrine Falcon: Found on every continent except Antarctica, and right across Australia.
• Brown Falcon: Common, very variable in colour and found in almost every Australian habitat.
• Nankeen Kestrel (Australian Kestrel): A small falcon that hovers over open country and farmland.
• Australian Hobby: Sleek and fast, it catches other birds in mid-air.
• Black Falcon and Grey Falcon: Rare, fast specialists of the inland. Spot a Grey Falcon and you’ve had a very good day.

Hawks, Goshawks and Harriers

• Brown Goshawk and Collared Sparrowhawk: Forest and woodland hunters with barred underparts and rounded wings.
• Grey Goshawk: Comes in a grey-and-white form and a striking pure white form.
• Swamp Harrier and Spotted Harrier: They glide low over wetlands and grasslands, then drop on prey below.

Kites, Baza, Buzzards and Osprey

• Black Kite: Australia’s most common raptor, often seen soaring in big groups near towns and fires.
• Whistling Kite: Medium-sized and named for its clear, whistling call.
• Black-shouldered Kite: A delicate white-and-grey bird that hovers dead still over fields.
• Pacific Baza, Square-tailed Kite and Black-breasted Buzzard: Specialist hunters of the forest and outback.
• Eastern Osprey: A fish-eater found along northern and eastern coastal waterways.

Identification of Birds of Prey

Most of the time you’ll see birds of prey as a shape against the sky, so birds of prey identification comes down to silhouette and behaviour more than colour. Start with these clues:

• Wings: Falcons have long, pointed wings. Goshawks and Sparrowhawks have short, rounded wings. Eagles have long, broad wings with “fingers” of spread feathers at the tips.
• Tail: The Wedge-tailed Eagle’s long wedge is the giveaway. The Black Kite’s tail is forked and twists as it steers. The White-bellied Sea-Eagle has a short, wedge-shaped tail.
• How it holds its wings: Sea-Eagles and Swamp Harriers glide with wings raised in a shallow V. The Eastern Osprey flies with a crooked, gull-like bend at the wrist.
• How it hunts: Hovering in one spot points to a Nankeen Kestrel or a Black-shouldered Kite. Gliding low over long grass suggests a Harrier. A few quick flaps then a glide through the trees is classic Goshawk.
• Colour, if you get it: The Black-shouldered Kite is bright white with black patches on the shoulders. The White-bellied Sea-Eagle shows a white body against dark flight feathers.

Give it time. Size is hard to judge in the sky, and young birds often look quite different from adults. A pair of binoculars and a good field guide make birds of prey identification a lot easier, and spotting Australian birds of prey is half the fun anyway.

FAQs About Birds of Prey/Raptors

What Is the Largest Bird of Prey?

In Australia, it’s the Wedge-tailed Eagle, with a wingspan of up to 2.5m. Worldwide, the biggest bird of prey is usually said to be the Andean Condor of South America, with a wingspan of more than 3m and a weight of up to about 15kg. Among Eagles, the heaviest are Steller’s Sea-Eagle and the Harpy Eagle.

Are Raptors Dinosaurs?

In a way, yes! All birds are living dinosaurs, descended from the same group of meat-eating dinosaurs as Velociraptor and T. rex. Birds of prey aren’t descended from Velociraptor itself, though. They just share a Latin name tag.

Why Are Raptors Called “Raptors”?

The word comes from the Latin raptor, meaning “robber” or “plunderer”, from rapere, “to seize”. It suits birds that snatch their prey with their feet.

What Does a Raptor Bird Look Like?

Raptor birds share a few features: a hooked beak for tearing, strong feet with curved talons for gripping, and big forward-facing eyes. Many also have a bony ridge above the eye that gives them a fierce stare. They’re not cross with you; it shades their eyes from the sun.

Where Can I See Raptors on the Gold Coast?

Head to Raptor Ridge at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary to see Australian birds of prey up close, with Wildlife Keepers on hand to tell you about them. For an even closer look, check out the Animal encounters.

In the wild, keep an eye on the sky around the Broadwater and local waterways, where Ospreys, Whistling Kites and White-bellied Sea-Eagles often hunt.

The Sanctuary is a not-for-profit, so every dollar you spend here supports wildlife conservation and Currumbin Wildlife Hospital.