Little Eagle
Hieraaetus morphnoides
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderAccipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies)
- FamilyAccipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
- GenusHieraaetus (Small Eagles)
- SpeciesHieraaetus morphnoides (Little Eagle)
About the Little Eagle
The little eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides) is a very small eagle endemic to Australia. John Gould described the little eagle in 1841. The distinctive pygmy eagle has long been considered a subspecies, but a 2009 genetic study shows it to be distinctive genetically and warrants species status. It is a near relative of both the Palearctic booted eagle and the massive but now extinct Haast's eagle of New Zealand.
The little eagle is a medium-sized bird of prey, measuring 45–55 cm (17–21.5 inches) in length and weighing 815 g (1.8 lb), roughly the size of a peregrine falcon. It has fully feathered legs and a square-cut, barred tail. Wingspan is about 120 cm with males having longer wings in proportion to their bodies, but being nearly half the weight of females. It is a powerful bird and during flight has strong wing beats, glides on flat wings and soars on slightly raised or flat wings.
The little eagle occurs in light and dark colour forms and generally these colours change with age. The most common is the light form which is dark brown occurring on the back and wings with black streaks on the head and neck, and a sandy to pale under body. The dark form... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Little Eagle in Blue Mountains National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Blue Mountains National Park
Wedge-tailed Eagle
Aquila audax
Black-shouldered Kite
Elanus axillaris
White-Bellied Sea-Eagle
Haliaeetus leucogaster
Square-tailed Kite
Lophoictinia isura
Whistling Kite
Haliastur sphenurus
Pacific Baza
Aviceda subcristata
Swamp Harrier
Circus approximans
Spotted Harrier
Circus assimilis
Black Kite
Milvus migrans
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Flinders Ranges National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Cape Range | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Grampians National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Ningaloo Marine Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Kakadu National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 8 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 9 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 10 | Booderee National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 11 | Kosciuszko National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 12 | Litchfield National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 13 | Nitmiluk National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 14 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Little Eagle in Blue Mountains National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Little Eagle sighting in Blue Mountains National Park, based on 33 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Little Eagle in Blue Mountains National Park?
May has the highest sighting rate for Little Eagle in Blue Mountains National Park in our monthly data.