Photo: Aviceda / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Little Eagle
Hieraaetus morphnoides
Little Eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides) — Birds of Prey of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Little Eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 775 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 Hieraaetus
- Species morphnoides
Quick facts
- Weight
- 775 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Little Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Little Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Little Eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides) is a species of bird in the Accipitridae family, part of the order Accipitriformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Australia (except Tasmania).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 775 g, with a wing length of about 36.5 cm and a tail of around 20.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 7.3 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Little Eagle?
The Little Eagle is a large bird that weighs around 775 g.
Where does the Little Eagle live?
The Little Eagle is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Australia (except Tasmania), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Little Eagle belong to?
The Little Eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Little Eagle eat?
The Little Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Little Eagle migrate?
The Little Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Little Eagle endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Little Eagle's range?
The Little Eagle has a mapped global range of about 7.3 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.