AUSTRALIAN BIRDS OF PREY

The Australian birds of prey / raptors that are featured in this gallery were all photographed in their natural habitat, not in captivity.

Click on one of the links below to see images in another category within the extensive range of photos of Australian birds.

HONEYEATERS PARROTS EMUS SWALLOWS WRENS KOOKABURRAS WATERBIRDS BIRDS OF PREY ALL OTHER BIRDS

Face of Wedge-tailed eagle, Aquila audax

Australia’s 24 species of hawks, kites, eagles and falcons are birds of prey that hunt during daylight hours, and it’s only these highly efficient predators, which have hooked bills for tearing at flesh and large talons for grabbing and carrying away their prey, that can be correctly described as raptors.

The 10 species of owls that are found in Australia are also referred to as birds of prey, for they too have hooked bills and use their strong feet and sharp talons to capture their prey, but owls are nocturnal hunters and thus cannot be accurately categorized as raptors, even though they play a similar role when they start work on the night shift.

To see a list of the species that are included in this gallery  

  • Barking Owl (Ninox connivens)
  • Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
  • Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris)
  • Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)
  • Brown Falcon (Falco berigora)
  • Eastern Osprey (Pandion cristatus)
  • Little Eagle (Heiraaetus morphnoides)
  • Little Falcon / Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis)
  • Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides)
  • Pacific Baza / Crested Hawk (Aviceda subcristata)
  • Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax)
  • Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)

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Photos of Australia background image