Description
Little Eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides, syn. Aquila morphnoides) in flight, Gore, S. Queensland, Australia
Date June 2006
Source Own work
Author Aviceda https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Aviceda
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Little_Eagle_flight_gore_jun06.jpg

The little eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides) is a very small eagle native to Australia, measuring 45–55 cm in length and weighing 815 g – roughly the size of a peregrine falcon. It tends to inhabit open woodland, grassland and arid regions, shunning dense forest. It is a near relative of both the Palearctic booted eagle and the massive but now extinct Haast's eagle of New Zealand. Order: Falconiformes (or Accipitriformes, q.v.), Family: Accipitridae, Synonyms: Aquila morphnoides.