This Kite is a medium-sized raptor and is easily recognized, having a white head and breast while the rest of its body is a striking chestnut brown, it is a bird of the coast, particularly mangrove swamps and estuaries where it feeds as a scavenger, particularly on dead fish and crabs, but they also hunt for small prey such as fish, crabs, shellfish, frogs, rodents, reptiles, even insects. It is widespread across the Northern Australia coastline from Western Australia to northern New South Wales but is more common in the north of its range. It is widespread throughout tropical Asia. The nest is built in living trees near water, often mangrove trees. The nest is large, made from sticks, seaweed or driftwood and lined with a variety of materials such as lichens, bones, seaweed and even paper. Both parents incubate the eggs and the young are fed bill to bill with small pieces of food.