Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)
About the Whistling Kite
The whistling kite (Haliastur sphenurus) is a medium-sized diurnal raptor found throughout Australia (including coastal islands), New Caledonia and much of New Guinea (excluding the central mountains and the northwest). Also called the whistling eagle or whistling hawk, it is named for its loud whistling call, which it often gives in flight. Some authorities put this species in the genus Milvus, despite marked differences in behaviour, voice and plumage between this species and other members of that genus. It is one of three birds that intentionally sets or spreads fires to catch prey. The other two are the black kite and brown falcon.
No audio on this page yet
We only publish recordings we may use commercially, because this site is supported by ads. xeno-canto lists 40 recordings for this species: 27 CC BY-NC-ND · 11 CC BY-NC-SA. None of them permits commercial use, so there is no player here — the page is kept as a profile so the bird is not missing from the guide.
As soon as someone uploads a freely licensed recording, we mirror it and the player appears here.
Listed as recorded in Australia, Papua New Guinea in the xeno-canto catalogue.
Other birds you can hear here
- Australasian FigbirdSphecotheres vieillotirecording
- Australasian SwamphenPorphyrio melanotusrecording
- Australian White IbisThreskiornis moluccarecording
- Blue-winged KookaburraDacelo leachiirecording
- Channel-billed CuckooScythrops novaehollandiaerecording
- Fan-tailed CuckooCacomantis flabelliformisrecording
These are the birds recorded alongside it, not close relatives — the site holds no other member of its genus or family yet.