General Information

The Wedge-tailed Eagle is the largest raptor in Australia and is the most common of all the world's large eagles. Because of both its tail and its size, it is one of the largest birds of prey in the world; even a non-expert can identify it at a glance as a 'Wedge'.

Physical Description

It has long, fairly broad wings, fully feathered legs, and an unmistakable wedge-shaped tail. As with many raptors, the female is much larger than the male, averaging around 9.2 lbs and sometimes over 12 lbs. Males are typically around 7 lbs. Their length varies between 3 ft and 3 ft 9 in., and they have a wingspan that can be up to 8 ft 2 in. long. They are a slight brown color with blackish brown wings and head.

Physical Description

It has long, fairly broad wings, fully feathered legs, and an unmistakable wedge-shaped tail. As with many raptors, the female is much larger than the male, averaging around 9.2 lbs and sometimes over 12 lbs. Males are typically around 7 lbs. Their length varies between 3 ft and 3 ft 9 in., and they have a wingspan that can be up to 8 ft 2 in. long. They are a slight brown color with blackish brown wings and head.

Diet

Most of their prey is captured on the ground, in gliding attacks, or sometimes in the air. Choice of prey is very much a matter of convenience and opportunity. The introduced rabbit and Brown Hare have recently become the primary items of the eagle's diet in many areas. The Wedge-tails can eat almost anything of a suitable size, whether it is live-caught or carrion. They display considerable teamwork and have been known to group together to hunt animals as large as the Red Kangaroo, goats, and flocks of sheep.

Habitat

Wedge-tails are found throughout Australia, including Tasmania, and southern New Guinea in almost all habitats, though they tend to be more common in lightly timbered and open country in southern and eastern Australia.

Reproduction

As the breeding season approaches, pairs of wedge-tailed eagles perch closely and preen each other. They also perform dramatic aerobatic display flights together over their territory. The wedge-tailed eagle usually nests in the fork of a tree on the ground or up to 30 meters above it. If there are no suitable sites, it will nest on a cliff edge.