Photo: This media Diliff (talk) Original work Fir0002 / GFDL (Wikimedia Commons)
Whistling Kite
Haliastur sphenurus
Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus) — Birds of Prey of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 753 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 sphenurus
Where it lives
Australia, south-central, northeastern, southeastern New Guinea and Grande Terre (New Caledonia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 753 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Whistling Kite is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Whistling Kite is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Australia, sc, ne, se New Guinea and Grande Terre (New Caledonia).
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 753 g, with a wing length of about 40.7 cm and a tail of around 26.4 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 5.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Whistling Kite?
The Whistling Kite is a large bird that weighs around 753 g.
Where does the Whistling Kite live?
The Whistling Kite is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Australia, sc, ne, se New Guinea and Grande Terre (New Caledonia), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Whistling Kite belong to?
The Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Whistling Kite eat?
The Whistling Kite is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Whistling Kite migrate?
The Whistling Kite is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Whistling 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 Whistling Kite make?
1 real field recording of the Whistling 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 Whistling Kite's range?
The Whistling Kite has a mapped global range of about 5.6 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.