Have you ever heard of the biggest eagle in the world?
With a wingspan of around 6-7.6 ft (182-232 cm), the wedge-tail eagle, Aquila audax is Australia’s largest bird of prey.
They are the fifth largest eagles in the world.
The wedge-tail eagle is a diurnal raptor species. Like all other birds of prey, they have large talons and a hooked bill.
The young birds have brown feathers, and as they mature, they become darker.
The adult eagles are dark brownish-black and have slightly bronze and white feathers on their wings and necks.
Their long and strong legs are covered with feathers till the toe.
One of the most inspiring facts about the wedge-tail eagle is that they mate for life.
Once they pair up, they will remain together for a lifetime, find a territory, and defend it together.
In addition, they share the responsibilities of maintaining their nests and taking care of their chicks.
The adult wedge-tail eagles are dark brownish-black and have slightly bronze and white feathers.
It has a 32-42 in (81-106 cm) length, and its wingspan is around 6-7.6 ft (182-232 cm).
The underside of the wings, the hind-neck, and shoulders are brownish-red. The base of the beak is creamy white.
The legs are long and strong and are covered with feathers till the base of the toe.
The adult female wedge-tail eagles are slightly paler than the males.
Its unique wedge-shaped tail distinguishes it from other eagle species.
The young eagles are dull brown and have light reddish-brown wings.
As the eaglets grow older, their colorbecomesdarker. They finally become dark brownish-black after ten years.
The Australian wedge-tail eagle travels at a speed of 50 mph (80 kph).
The wedge-tail eagle birds can reach as high as 1.2 mi (2 km) and continuously fly in the air for 90 min.
The diet of the wedge-tail eagle comprises rabbits and hares thanks to the European settlers who brought these species to Australia.
They have become the primarydiet of the eagles in many areas.
Other animals introduced in their diet are foxes, feral cats, smaller birds, and native animals like small kangaroos, wombats, koalas, wallabies, possums, and bandicoots.
A significant component of their diet comprises birds like ducks, crows, ibises, cockatoos, Australian brushturkeys, and young emus.
In some areas, they feed on reptiles like goannas, snakes, frill-necked lizards, and bearded dragons.
They sometimes hunt for food beyond their home range when the food resources or to hunt animals are scarcely available.
The wedge-tail eagles prefer to live in woodlands, forested lands, and open country.
They usually avoid rainforests and coastal regions.
Most of the time, the wedge-tail eagles are seen flying high up in the sky at an altitude of 3280 ft (1000 m).
When not flying, they are perched on trees.
The wedge-tail eagles built their location with the best view of the surrounding area.
They like to build their nest in a liveordead tree and one of the tallest in the area.
The home range varies on the availability of prey and other resources that supports their living.
Most of the nesting range is only 1.5-2.5 mi (2.5-4 km) apart.
