Photo: Tisha Mukherjee / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Brahminy Kite
Haliastur indus
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) — Birds of Prey of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 529 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Haliastur
- Species indus
Where it lives
Pakistan to Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea and satellites, coastal Australia (except southern, Tasmania), Bismarck Arch. and Solomon Is.
Quick facts
- Weight
- 529 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Brahminy Kite is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of coastal habitats, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Brahminy Kite is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) belongs to the Accipitridae family of the order Accipitriformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR, AU Pakistan to Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea and satellites, coastal Australia (except s, Tasmania), Bismarck Arch. and Solomon Is.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 529 g, with a wing length of about 40 cm and a tail of around 20.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 8.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Brahminy Kite?
The Brahminy Kite is a large bird that weighs around 529 g.
Where does the Brahminy Kite live?
The Brahminy Kite is found across Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR, AU Pakistan to Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea and satellites, coastal Australia (except s, Tasmania), Bismarck Arch. and Solomon Is, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Brahminy Kite belong to?
The Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Brahminy Kite eat?
The Brahminy Kite is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Brahminy Kite migrate?
The Brahminy Kite is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Brahminy Kite endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Brahminy Kite make?
1 real field recording of the Brahminy Kite — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Brahminy Kite's range?
The Brahminy Kite has a mapped global range of about 8.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.