[4][5][6] The little eagle is a medium-sized bird of prey, measuring 45–55 cm (17–21.5 inches) in length and weighing 815 g (1.8 lb), roughly the size of a peregrine falcon.

Wingspan is about 120 cm with males having longer wings in proportion to their bodies, but being nearly half the weight of females.

The most common is the light form which is dark brown occurring on the back and wings with black streaks on the head and neck, and a sandy to pale under body.

The dark form of this eagle is similar except the head and under body is usually darker brown or rich rufous.

Like so many Australian natives, it faces a deteriorating population due to a loss of habitat and competition from other species.

Little eagles usually avoid large areas of dense forest, preferring to hunt in open woodland, where the birds use trees for lookouts.

[9] Little eagle nesting territories are defended against intruders and advertised by soaring, undulating flight display, conspicuous perching and/or calling.

[23][15][11] Movement behaviour varies between individuals, and may be partly migratory (being an altitudinal migrant), dispersive or permanently resident.

The species is an agile, fast hunter swooping to take prey on the ground in the open but also from trees and shrubs.

[10] In the ACT region its diet comprises mostly rabbits and to a lesser extent birds (especially rosellas, magpie-larks and starlings).

[27][26] However, rabbits are the most common dietary item for both eagle species near Canberra, indicating potential for competition for prey.

[1] Reasons for it being classified as 'least concern' are that the bird of prey has a huge range, spanning up to 20,000km2 and the population size is only decreasing at a rate of 10% per ten years or 3 generations, instead of the required 30%.

The main threats to the species are the destruction and degradation of its foraging and breeding habitat causing it to come into competition with the larger and more dominant wedge-tailed eagle.