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Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)

Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)
Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)

About Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)

  • Kingdom: Animals
  • Phylum: Chordates
  • Class: Birds
  • Order: Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies
  • Family: Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

The black-winged kite, also known as the black-shouldered kite, is a small diurnal bird of prey in the family Accipitridae best known for its habit of hovering over open grasslands in the manner of the much smaller kestrels. This Palearctic and Afrotropical species was sometimes combined with the Australian black-shouldered kite and the white-tailed kite of North and South America which together form a superspecies. This kite is distinctive, with long wings; white, grey and black plumage; and owl-like forward-facing eyes with red irises. The owl-like behaviour is even more pronounced in the letter-winged kite, a nocturnal relative in Australia. Although mainly seen on plains, they are sometimes seen on grassy slopes of hills in the higher elevation regions of Asia. They are not migratory, but show nomadism in response to weather and food availability. They are well adapted to utilize periodic upsurges in rodent populations and can raise multiple broods in a single year unlike most birds of prey. Populations in southern Europe have grown in response to human activities, particularly agriculture and livestock rearing. Now present in SouthWest France

Source: Wikipedia

Lifelists

Trips

Visits

  • 2001-06-21

    Southern Africa, South Africa

  • 2006-01-04

    Bikaner - Sandy Desert, India

  • 2006-01-20

    Jim Corbett National Park - Dhikala, India
    local name Black-shouldered Kite
    Image from 2006-01-20

  • 2011-01-13

    Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia
    Local Name: Black-shouldered Kite
    Image from 2011-01-13

  • 2013-02-01

    Ang Trapeang Thmor, Cambodia

  • 2013-10-24

    Nairobi National Park, Kenya
    Image from 2013-10-24

  • 2013-10-28

    Mount Elgon National Park, Kenya

  • 2016-02-27

    Wuasa, Indonesia

  • 2017-01-01

    Mabamba Swamp, Uganda

  • 2017-01-09

    Queen Elizabeth II National Park, Uganda

  • 2017-01-13

    Mabamba Swamp, Uganda

  • 2023-03-17

    Tempasuk Plain, Malaysia

  • 2024-08-31

    Danau Ranamese, Indonesia
    Image from 2024-08-31

  • 2025-01-31

    Monduli, Tanzania

  • 2025-02-13

    Mapopwe Rice Fields, Tanzania

  • 2025-02-21

    Oued Massa, Morocco

  • 2025-03-07

    La Janda, Spain

  • 2025-03-08

    La Janda, Spain

  • 2025-08-13

    Genung Kerinci, Indonesia

  • 2025-08-15

    Genung Kerinci, Indonesia