AUSTRALASIAN RAPTORS and OWLS

Not the easiest of subjects simply because they determine how close you can get, and their eyesight is much much better then yours. Some raptors will tolerate a closer approach, but most photography is achieved in flight, indeed I have had raptors fly overhead as if investigating me. Owls, on the other hand, if found roosting in daylight rarely move, or at least not far, although many species hunt in daylight if necessary. The problem then is getting a clear shot as they are usually well-hidden. With advances in photography it is possible to achieve good results at night, unfortunately some photographers and birders use inappropriate lighting or flash, although my conscience is clear. My limited success is shown here, arranged by continent.Although there is obviously overlap, each continent has the majority of species unique to its own area, in some cases birds may appear more than once, especially if subspecies are different.

Australia's raptors are in many cases endemic, and given that many inhabit open country, relatively easy to photograph. Those that are not endemic are found in New Guinea or the same region, whilst a few are much more widespread. However, including New Zealand, there are just 27 species, no less than six are rare and seldom seen, although their true status may be masked by the large areas with no human inhabitants. Owls, following recent splits, number twelve, plus one in New Zealand which is on the Australian list as it occurs on Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands. We've had mixed fortunes with owls, but have managed a few, including the rare (in Oz.) Eastern Grass Owl. Last updated March 2025
Click on the boxes below for other continents.

Eastern Osprey Pandion (haliaetus) cristatus Northern Territory 2012
Split by some authorities, there are a few morphological differences but it is basically similar to the other three subspecies of Osprey. Also found in Sulawesi, Java and the Bismarks and Solomons, it is only found coastally and seems uncommon.
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus axillaris Queensland 2024
The Australian representative of three similar Elanus species, and an endemic, which does not occur in Tasmania. There is confusion over names, as the Eurasian species has been called "Black-shouldered" in the past. Why not stick to Australian Kite?
Letter-winged Kite Elanus scriptus Northern Territory 2024
A fourth member of the Elanus genus, but differing in several ways to the other three. It is one of the hardest raptors to see in Australia for a visitor, we eventually saw a colony in the outback, just in Northern Territory. Usually confined to remote outback regions.
Letter-winged Kite Elanus scriptus Northern Territory 2024
A colonial nester, unusual in raptors, given to movements in response to rat and mice plagues. Juveniles wander widely but as the food supply runs out they starve, so overall populations fluctuate. Colonies are impossible to find without local knowledge.
Square-tailed Kite Lophoictinia isura New South Wales 2019
Another Australian endemic which does not occur in Tasmania. Widespread but thinly distibuted throughout the country except the arid interior, we had seen them twice before managing to photograph one, when we were told of a nest site.
Square-tailed Kite Lophoictinia isura New South Wales 2019
Difficult to observe since they do not soar, but fly just above the canopy when hunting. A somewhat strange looking species when perched, only the adults have an off-white face, juveniles look more "normal". A monotypic genus.
Black-breasted Buzzard Hamirostra melanosternon S.Australia 2019
A reasonably common endemic, found in both forested and dry areas, mainly in the north and west. Another monotypic genus, there is an area of density in the north of South Australia, where this bird flew over us whilst at a petrol station.
Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides South Australia 2019
An Australian endemic which was formerly lumped with Pygmy Eagle of New Guinea. Reasonably widespread and common in inland wooded areas, but often goes undetected until soaring. Not so this bird, found whilst generally birding, but we have seen them infrequently.
Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax South Australia 2019
Also found in New Guinea, this is one of the most common Australian raptors, often seen on outback drives. Their success as a species is probably due to large quantities of roadkill being available They are gregarious at carrion, and often found in the middle of a highway.
Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax New South Wales 2019
Whilst juveniles often look scruffy, the distinctive tail is a not uncommon sight, particularly in Tasmania, where they are more reliant on hunting. However they do not have so much competition as many Australian raptors are absent from Tasmania.
Red Goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus Northern Territory 2012
Confined to northern regions, almost the only chance you have of seeing this bird is if a nest site is known which can be observed without disturbance. Very thinly spread and secretive, birds rarely fly above the canopy, soaring in the morning and taking long hunting flights.
Brown Goshawk Tachyspiza fasciata Western Australia 2012
A widespread species from Australia to Sulawesi and east to The Solomons. Two races occur in Australia, in wooded habitats everywhere including city parks, but more common in the south. The northern race is smaller, inviting confusion with Collared Sparrowhawk.
Christmas Goshawk Tachyspiza (fasciata) natalis Christmas Isl. 2012
Subject to several different taxonomic treatment over the years, including assignment to Variable Goshawk, these birds are innately curious, and once found, will follow you along the track, perhaps hoping you'll disturb prey.
Collared Sparrowhawk Tachyspiza cirrocephala Northern Territory 2012
Similar to Brown Goshawk in most respects, plumage, distribution, habitat etc., but less common and smaller. The tail is square at the tip whereas the Goshawk's is rounded but that isn't always reliable because of wear.
Swamp Harrier Circus approximans South Australia 2019
Formerly known as Australasian Marsh Harrier, a common and widespread species from Australia and New Zealand to Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji. It migrates north in the non-breeding season and is then found in New Guinea and the Kermadec Islands also.
Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis Western Australia 2012
Found in the Lesser Sundas, Sulawesi and Australia except Tasmania, this striking species is usually found inland in more arid areas, whilst not uncommon, it can be difficult to catch up with, we have only ever seen birds in flight.
Black Kite Milvus migrans affinis Northern Territory 2012
Found throughout the world except the Americas, this is the Australian subspecies which also occurs from Sulawesi to the Moluccas and New Guinea. Abundant in the north but less so in the south, it has not been mooted as a split, unlike some other subspecies.
Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus Victoria 2019
With a range encompassing Southeast New Guinea and New Caledonia, this is another very common species, especially near water. It is more numerous than Black Kite in south Australia, but rare in Tasmania. A monotypic species.
Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus girrenera Western Australia 2012
A widespread and common species from Pakistan eastwards to The Phillipines, Solomons and Australia. It tends to be coastal, especially in mangroves. There are four subspecies, another appears in the Eurasia section.
White-bellied Sea Eagle Icthyophaga leucogaster W. Australia 2012
A striking species in adult plumage, widespread from India to e China, Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia. Normally coastal, it will move up large rivers but otherwise is rarely found inland. Recently reassigned to this genus from Haliaeetus.
White-bellied Sea Eagle Icthyophaga leucogaster N. Territory 2012
Juveniles, like many raptors, are very different in appearence from adults. As well as fishing, younger birds especially will scavenge, we came across an immature in Cape York feeding on a rabbit in the middle of a pedestrian crossing.
Australian Hobby Falco longipennis longipennis Rottnest Island 2012
Widespread and common, also found in the Lesser Sundas. There is migration/dispersal to New Guinea and New Caledonia. There are three subspecies, two occur in Australia and seem to have distributions based largely on humidity and rainfall.
Australian Hobby Falco longipennis murchisonianus NSW 2019
Somewhat paler head and upperparts than the nominate, and usually found in drier country. Although in New South Wales, this bird was in a very arid region. The cere and eyering on both suspecies varies from blue-grey to yellow, it can't be used to distinguish subspecies.
Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides Western Australia 2012
Once called Australian Kestrel, but has been found to breed in parts of New Guinea, plus Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands. It is common in open areas, but far more thinly spread than Eurasian Kestrel. Being closer to that than to Hobbies, it hunts mainly by hovering.
Brown Falcon Falco berigora Western Australia 2012
The commonest falcon in Australia, a second subspecies occurs in New Guinea. Unlike others in Australia, the plumage is very variable. There are basically two morphs, the "rufous" is much paler, but there is a lot of variation.
Brown Falcon Falco berigora Western Australia 2012
The commonest falcon in Australia, a second subspecies occurs in New Guinea. Unlike others in Australia, the plumage is very variable. There are basically two morphs, the "rufous" is much paler, but there is a lot of variation.
Grey Falcon Falco hypoleucos South Australia 2019
An Australian endemic listed as Vulnerable, and restricted to arid inland areas. It is almost certainly Australia's rarest falcon, and the chances of seeing one without local knowledge are slim. Not as streamlined as many falcons.
Grey Falcon Falco hypoleucos South Australia 2019
The breeding range of this species has recently contracted, but the discovery that they now nest largely on electricity pylons rather than trees may account for this. It certainly means that, with local knowledge, they can be seen with some certainty.
Black Falcon Falco subniger Western Australia 2012
An uncommon endemic of inland Australia, with no records from Tasmania nor much of the south-west. It is nomadic, one of the best ways to find one is to look around large budgerigar flocks in sparsely wooded or arid areas.
Eastern Grass Owl Tyto longimembris Queensland 2019
A widespread Barn-Owl, from e. India eastwards, once lumped with the only other Grass-owl, African. In Australia they are rare and difficult to find. We were extremely lucky to come across two in an area where our guide assured us they hadn't been seen for twenty years.
Barking Owl Ninox connivens Queensland 2019
The breeding range of this species has recently contracted, but the discovery that they now nest largely on electricity pylons rather than trees may account for this. It certainly means that, with local knowledge, they can be seen with some certainty.
Christmas Boobook Ninox natalis Christmas Island 2012
Endemic to Christmas Island, although it may be lumped with the mainland species, which is odd since several Boobooks, including the Tasmanian subspecies, have recently been split. It's staying on my list, especially as a guide called it in by voice from about a mile away! .
Morepork Ninox novaeseelandiae New Zealand 2007
Endemic to New Zealand and also found on Lord Howe and Norfolk islands, there were three subspecies although the current population on Norfolk Island are hybrids with introduced birds, the last pure undulata died in 1996.