wedge-tailed eagle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Specialist, Formal, Scientific
Quick answer
What does “wedge-tailed eagle” mean?
A large, powerful bird of prey native to Australia, characterized by a distinctive long, wedge-shaped tail.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, powerful bird of prey native to Australia, characterized by a distinctive long, wedge-shaped tail.
The wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax) is Australia's largest bird of prey, a symbol of wilderness and power in Australian culture, and plays a key role in the ecosystem as an apex predator and scavenger.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No difference; the term is used identically in both dialects when referring to the Australian species. It is rarely used outside an Australasian or ornithological context.
Connotations
For UK/US speakers, the term is purely technical/zoological unless they have Australian connections. For Australians, it holds cultural weight.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general British or American English, except in specialist or Australian contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “wedge-tailed eagle” in a Sentence
The [ADJ] wedge-tailed eagle soared.We observed a wedge-tailed eagle [V-ing].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “wedge-tailed eagle” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The bird wedged its tail during the dive. (Note: This is a constructed, non-standard usage for illustration; the species name is not used as a verb.)
American English
- The raptor wedged its tail feathers for steering. (Note: This is a constructed, non-standard usage for illustration; the species name is not used as a verb.)
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form exists.]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form exists.]
adjective
British English
- We studied the wedge-tailed eagle population. (This is the standard noun modifier use.)
American English
- The wedge-tailed eagle exhibit at the zoo was impressive. (This is the standard noun modifier use.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in zoology, ecology, and Australian studies papers.
Everyday
Used in Australia when discussing wildlife; otherwise rare.
Technical
Standard term in ornithology, wildlife management, and conservation biology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “wedge-tailed eagle”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “wedge-tailed eagle”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “wedge-tailed eagle”
- Misspelling: 'wedge-tail eagle' (missing the 'd').
- Incorrect hyphenation: 'wedged tailed eagle'.
- Confusing it with other eagle species like the bald eagle.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are both eagles (family Accipitridae) but belong to different genera and are not closely related. The wedge-tailed eagle is native to Australia and New Guinea, while the bald eagle is native to North America.
It is one of the world's largest eagles. Females are larger, with a wingspan often exceeding 2.3 metres (7.5 ft) and a weight of up to 5.3 kg (11.7 lbs).
Yes, they are widespread across mainland Australia and Tasmania. They are often seen soaring over open country, woodlands, and mountainous regions.
The name is purely descriptive. Its tail feathers are long and distinctively shaped like a wedge or a diamond, which is a key identifying feature, especially when seen in flight from below.
A large, powerful bird of prey native to Australia, characterized by a distinctive long, wedge-shaped tail.
Wedge-tailed eagle is usually specialist, formal, scientific in register.
Wedge-tailed eagle: in British English it is pronounced /ˌwɛdʒˌteɪld ˈiːɡl̩/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌwɛdʒˌteɪld ˈiːɡl̩/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to 'wedge-tailed eagle'. The word 'eagle' features in idioms like 'eagle-eyed'.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the SHAPE: its tail is like a WEDGE, and it's Australia's TALL (sounds like 'tailed') story of power in the sky.
Conceptual Metaphor
SYMBOL OF UNTAMED POWER (Australian wilderness), MAJESTIC SOVEREIGNTY (of the skies), FEROCIOUS FREEDOM.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most distinctive physical feature of the wedge-tailed eagle?