Whistling KiteScientific name: Haliastur sphenurus
Meaning of name: Haliastur is from the Greek word hals, meaning sea, and the Latin word astur, meaning goshawk. Sphenurus is from the Greek words sphen, meaning wedge, and ura, meaning tail.
Aboriginal name: djando (charn’daw).
Distribution: Widespread across mainland Australia but uncommon in Tasmania.
Description: Up to 60cm long with a 145cm wingspan.
Notes: The furthest distance recorded by the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme for this species of bird to travel is 2454km. The oldest bird recorded was recovered 20 years 5.1 months after being banded (information as at 30 April 2019).
References: Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Various contributors.
What Bird is That? Neville W Cayley. 1978
Aboriginal names of bird species in south-west Western Australia, with suggestions for their adoption into common usage. Ian Abbott. 2009. Conservation Science Western Australia Journal. Volume 7 No 2 http://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/about-us/science-and-research/76-publications-and-resources/103-conservation-science-wa-journal
Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/science/abbbs/abbbs-search.html
This photograph was not taken in the reserves of interest to the FQPB. Photograph courtesy of R. Dibbens.
This photograph was not taken in the reserves of interest to the FQPB. Photograph courtesy of R. Dibbens.
