These are a medium-sized raptor widespread across northern Australia from Western Australia to northern New South Wales, they are more common in the north of their range and are also widespread throughout tropical Asia, the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. They are found mainly on coastal and inland wetlands, particularly mangrove swamps and estuaries with broad mudflats but are also sometimes seen over forests and along rivers.
They are more scavengers than hunters, mostly feeding on dead fish and other carrion, but they also hunt for small prey such as fish, crabs, shellfish, frogs, rodents, reptiles and even insects. They forage both over water and land, soaring 20-50m above the surface and, being scavengers, benefit from waste at tips, on roadsides and in harbours.
Males and females are similar and prefer to nest in tall emergent trees in mangroves, the nest is large and made from sticks, seaweed or driftwood and lined with a variety of materials such as lichens, bones, seaweed and even paper. They show considerable site fidelity and nest in the same area year after year. Both parents incubate the eggs and the young are fed bill to bill with small pieces of food.