Wedge-Tailed Eagle

The Wedge-Tailed Eagle is found throughout Australia, Tasmania, and Southern New Guinea. They can be found at all elevations however are most likely to be found in open forested areas, and near farmlands

The Wedge-Tailed Eagle is Australia's national bird. One of the largest eagles in the world, this bird has also been classified as endangered.

Known as a very aggressive hunter the Wedge-Tailed Eagle suffered from farmers killing them protecting their lambs. Bounties were placed on the birds and literally hundreds of thousands of these eagles were shot and poisoned. It is estimated that some 30,000 Wedge-Tailed Eagles were shot in one year.

Extensive research has shown that these birds do not attack farmer's lambs as much as previously suspected. This research started the conservation of the Wedge-Tailed Eagle. It is now illegal to hunt, trap, or poison this eagle.

The Wedge-Tailed will eat small animals such as rabbits, stray cats, snakes, and possum; but can also with the help of several other eagles, take down animals as large as kangaroos and sheep. Carcasses also account for a large part of the eagles diet, this may have been a contributing factor to the farmer's belief that these huge eagles were killing their sheep, most of the sheep were probably already dead.