Wedge-tailed Eagle

Wedge-tailed Eagle

The Wedge-tailed Eagle is the largest bird of prey in Australia.  This makes him or her a raptor.  Did you know that "raptor" means bird of prey.  The term has come to be used for dinosaurs. . . but more correctly we should probably say "dinosaur raptor" or "Theropod raptor."  

Wedge-tailed Eagles have a wingspan of 9 feet 4 inches.  This is almost three meters wide.  They are about 3 1/2 feet  or  just over a meter long.  The females are larger than the males.  Females can wiegh almost 13 pounds or about 6 kilograms.  

Wedge-tailed Eagles hunt practically anything but they eally like the introduced European hares (rabbits).  Since hares were introduced and are a scourge on the environment. . . GO WEDGE-TAILED EAGLES!!!!!    By the way, this eagle can even bring down the introduced species of ferel cats and foxes as well.  Their original diet and of course still part of their diet was mostly marsupial mammals that were small enough to kill and carry.  So bandicoots, small kangaroos, possums, koalas etc. etc.  They even hunt some other birds.  They sometimes eat reptiles like the brown snake too.  

This bird is amazing in that it can soar for hours without flapping a wing.  It must be catching the rising thermal air currents.  It can soar as high as 5,900 feet or 1,800 meters.  When flying it is easy to spot its wedge shaped tail that gave the species its name. . . well, it is easy to see if its not too high up.  The Wedge-tailed Eagle is also often found perched up on a cliff or high in a tree to keep an eye out.  It often spots carrion and flies down to feed on the already dead animal.  It obviously has excellent eyesight to see prey and carrion from high in the sky.

Artist Note:  This new drawing, in prntable form....is found under the top buttons labeled:  . . .
.............All Printables........ or..............Australian Animals.......or........Animals....... Remember to scroll down to the bottom of the long list for the printable drawing you are seeking.

Now, I will admit that this eagle drawing is probably not my best work. . . but I was drawing while sitting on a gurney in a hospital gown, with an IV in my arm, while waiting to go in for surgery.  So maybe I am allowed some leeway.   Don't ya think?