Diurnal Birds of Prey

Australia is home to 25 diurnal birds of prey including 19 birds from the Accipitridae family and six from the Falconidae family.

Family – Accipitridae

Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Small, hovering white-tailed kites – Elanus

Black-shouldered Kite Elanus axillaris

Letter-winged Kite Elanus scriptus

Pernines – crested hawks Aviceda and endemic Australian hawks

Square-tailed Kite Lophoictinia isura

Black-breasted Buzzard Hamirostra melanosternon

Pacific Baza Aviceda subcristata

Endemic Red Goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus

Large Kites and Sea-eagles

Black Kite Milvus migrans

Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus

Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus,

White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster

Goshawks and sparrowhawks – Accipiter

Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus

Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrocephalus

Grey Goshawk Accipiter novaehollandiae

Harriers – Circus

Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis

Swamp Harrier Circus approximans

‘True’ eagles with feathered legs

Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax,

Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides

 

Family – Falconidae

Genus Falco

Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides

Brown Falcon Falco berigora

Australian Hobby Falco longipennis

Grey Falcon Falco hypoleucos

Black Falcon Falco subniger

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus