AOI Currawang raptor ID

[jude hopwood <>]

Dear All,

Evan Beaver has identified this bird as a Square-tailed Kite confirmed by all the images I found on the net, especially BirdLife Australia whose images and descriptions confirmed the sighting. 

* very long, upswept paddle-shaped wings

* Searching for prey from the air, where they are highly agile at low levels

* They specialise in hunting among trees, twisting between and below tree-tops, and they take most prey from the outer foliage of the canopy, but do not enter the canopy

In the brief time I observed the bird several times I thought it would perch as it was circling shrubs and small trees, allowing me time for a closer look, but each time it moved on.

I'd never heard of nor read about this bird until sighting it.  Wow! As John Layton  described in his poetic report on the Ibis yesterday, way ahead of watching TV!

Jude