Brahminy Kite
Haliastur indus
The Brahminy Kite is an easily recognised chestnut and white medium sized hawk with a wing span of 109-124 cm. Body length is 45-51 cm and weight is approximately 536 gram for males and 588 gram for females.
It often hunts along water edges for fish, crustaceans etc and but also take variety of small animals such as birds, carrion and even insects. Found primarily along the coastal edge of northern Australia, also in SE Asia
Adults:
Head – white. Eye – reddish brown. Cere – cream to pale blue
Chest – white, belly – chestnut brown.
Wings upper – chestnut brown with dark outer primaries
Wings under – paler with chestnut brown patch from wrist to body, dark primaries.
Tail- pale chestnut with light tips. Feet – cream
Juveniles:
Dark brown upperparts with cream spots, mottled pale brown head and pale belly. Cere grey, eyes brown, feet cream
Status: Not globally or nationally threatened