In Australia its range is mainly tropical from Carnarvon in Western Australia across northern Australia and down the east coast as far as about Myall Lakes in New South Wales, though it is uncommon south of Cape Byron. Their range extends from Pakistan in the west through south and southwest Asia to eastern China and Taiwan, and south through the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia to New Guinea and Australia. The names “Brahminy” and Haliastur indus give a clue as to their geographical range, as they were first described in India. With a length of about 50cm/20in and a wingspan of 1.2m/47in, they’re much smaller than sea-eagles (80cm/31in and 1.8-2.2m/71-87in), but their preferred habitat and diet means that they’re are often called sea-eagles by the general population. It’s not unusual to see them cruising main roads looking for road-kill.
They have, however, very broad tastes and will eat any flesh that they can catch or find, both vertebrate and invertebrate. The hooked beak is like that of the White-bellied Sea-Eagle, so it’s no surprise that they are adapted to eating fish, for which they both hunt and scavenge and are usually found near water, mainly coastal but also along larger rivers. They’re a common sight along the coast here in North Queensland, and the bird in the first two photos was photographed at Toomulla Beach, about 40km northwest of Townsville and not far from where I live in Bluewater. This is one of my favourite Australian raptors and the adults are striking looking birds with their white and chestnut plumage. In those days you got a single photo and a short paragraph of text, so here is a more thorough treatment.
The Brahminy Kite last featured as bird of the week in August 2003. Surprise, surprise – another bird of the moment at last.
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