The Square-tailed Kite is threatened from habitat destruction, the depletion of food through deforestation, and pastoralism, illegal egg-collecting and shooting.
Lophoictinia isura a specialized canopy-dwelling predator, occurs throughout Australia, primarily in coastal and subcoastal areas, in eucalyptus forests and woodlands, along wooded watercourses and mallee, sometimes hunting over adjacent heaths and scrubby areas.
There are no overall population estimates although it has always been considered uncommon. A decline of 10% of the current population expected over the next 10 years or three generations.
Lophoictinia isura is considered as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN. CITES lists the species as "Appendix 2".