---
title: "Whistling Kite"
description: "Haliastur sphenurus — Birds. 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)."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/whistling-kite
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Whistling Kite

> Haliastur sphenurus — Birds. 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).

- Scientific name: *Haliastur sphenurus*
- Category: `birds` (Birds)
- Habitats: `savanna` (Savanna)
- iNaturalist observations: 11543
- Wikidata: [Q606512](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q606512)
- iNaturalist taxon: [5407](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/5407)

## Names

- en: Whistling Kite
- de: Keilschwanzweih
- es: Milano silbador
- fr: Milan siffleur
- nl: Wigstaartwouw
- pt: Milhafre-assobiador
- pl: Kania złotawa

## Countries with the most observations

AU (10801), NC (62), PG (39), ID (13)

## Summary

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…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistling_kite

## Photo

![Whistling Kite](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/whistling-kite/medium.jpg)

Photo: John Cull · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/144968628

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/whistling-kite?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).