Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae
Kites are small raptors known for their graceful flight. Their narrow wings and tails give them excellent air maneuverability. These birds are found worldwide and are known for their migratory nature, allowing them to be spotted in warmer regions.
They have small heads with partly bare faces and short bills. They have a varied diet, including insects, rodents, snails, and reptiles.
1. Genus Chelictinia
There is only one species in this Genus.
1.1. Scissor-tailed Kite or African Swallow-tailed Kite (Chelictinia riocourii)
Description: Scissor-tailed Kites have light grey feathers on their upper bodies, while their underbodies, forehead, and cheeks are white. They possess thin black masks that run through their reddish eyes, small bills, and yellow legs. Their wings are pointed with an obvious black bar across the carpal and have a long, deeply forked tail. Sexes are the same, but females are marginally larger.
- Length: 30-38 cm.
- Weight: up to 100 g.
- Wingspan: 68-76 cm.
Similar to Swallow-tailed Kites, their ranges do not overlap. The (American) Swallow-tailed Kite has a deeper forked tail and bolder black and white plumage than the Scissor-tailed Kite.
Habitat: Scissor-tailed Kites inhabit the arid savannah of the Sahel region of Africa, usually in areas with Acacia scrub when breeding but in more grassy areas in the non-breeding season.
Conservation: The Scissor-tailed Kite is listed as Vulnerable (VU) by the IUCN due to locust control and is vulnerable to environmental deterioration, including cultivation, wood harvesting, and overgrazing.
Distribution:
- Breeding: Scissor-tailed Kites are found from Senegal on the west coast to Sudan in the east. They have also been found breeding in Ethiopia and Kenya.
- Non-breeding: They are known to migrate to Somalia.
2. Genus Chondrohierax
2.1. Hook-billed Kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus)
Description: Male Hook-billed Kites have grey upper bodies and striped bellies, white and grey, with banded tails. Their bills are hook-shaped and variable. The females have more brownish to brick-red stripes. Their legs and feet are yellow.
- Length: 38-51 cm.
- Weight: 215-397 g.
- Wingspan: 78-98 cm.
Similar to Snail Kites. Hook-billed Kites and Snail Kites both have hooked bills.
Habitat: Hook-billed Kites can be found in diverse habitats throughout the Americas, including wooded streams, rainforests, deciduous forests, semi-arid woodlands, and humid sub-tropical forests.
Conservation: Hook-billed Kites have been listed by IUCN AS Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Hook-billed Kites range from northern Mexico and the southern United States through Central and South America to Paraguay, Bolivia, and northern Argentina. They are also found in Grenada, Trinidad, and Tobago.
3. Genus Elanoides
There is only one species in this Genus.
3.1. Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)
Description: Swallow-tailed Kites are mostly black and white. Their plumage is white with total black borders. Their flight feathers, tail, feet, and bills are all black, and they have long, black, deeply forked tails. The sexes are monomorphic in plumage and size.
- Length: 50-68 cm.
- Weight: 310-600 g.
- Wingspan: 112-136 cm.
Similar to Scissor-tailed Kites. Ranges do not overlap. (American) Swallow-tailed kites have deeper forked tails and whiter heads than African Swallow-tailed kites.
Habitat: Swallow-tailed Kites inhabit diverse habitats, including wetland forests, rainforests, mountain cloud forests, mangroves, and tropical dry forests.
Conservation: According to the IUCN, Swallow-tailed Kites are categorized as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Swallow-tailed kites reside in South America and breed from the Southeast United States to East Peru and northern Argentina. They are considered migratory raptors and, during the spring months, often move from areas in Central and South America to breed.
4. Genus Elanus
These Genera are distinctive because of their grey-and-white coloring, short square tails, and black wing markings. They also have small scales on their feet. They hunt by flying slowly over open ground and hovering like a Kestrel.
4.1. Black-winged Kite or Black-shouldered (African) (Elanoides caeruleus)
Description: Black-winged Kites have gray upperparts with black-marked shoulders, white faces, and underbodies. They have a large head with black around their red eyes, short square tails, and yellow legs. They have a black tip to their underwings. There is only a slight difference in sizes between sexes.
- Length: 30-37 cm.
- Weight: 197-277 g.
- Wingspan: 77-92 cm.
Similar to:
- Black-shouldered Kites (Australian). Black-winged Kites and Black-shouldered Kites (Australian) were previously considered the same species. The “Australian” is found only in Australia, while the “African” is in Europe, Africa, southern Asia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea.
- White-tailed Kites. Their ranges do not overlap.
Habitat: Black-winged Kites are commonly found in open savanna grasslands and are associated with grazed and parklands with scattered bushes and small trees.
Conservation: The IUCN has listed the Black-winged Kite as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Black-winged Kites are found in Europe, Africa, southern Asia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines.
4.2. Black-Shouldered Kite (Australian) (Elanus axillaris)
Description: Black-shouldered Kites have gray upperparts with black-marked shoulders, white faces, and underbodies. They have a large head with black around their red eyes, short square tails, and yellow legs. They have a black tip to their underwings. Sexes are alike, but females are larger.
- Length: 33-37 cm.
- Weight: 181-285 g.
- Wingspan: 82-94 cm.
Similar to:
- Black-winged Kite. The Black-winged Kite and Black-shouldered Kite (Australian) were previously considered the same species. The “Australian” are found only in Australia, while the “African” are in Europe, Africa, southern Asia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea.
- White-tailed Kites. Their ranges do not overlap.
Habitat: Black-shouldered Kites are found in open habitats throughout Australia. It adapts well to human-altered landscapes.
Conservation: The IUCN has listed the Black-shouldered Kite as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Black-shouldered Kites are endemic to Australia.
4.3. Letter-winged Kite (Elanus scriptus)
Description: Letter-winged Kites are mostly white with bold black shoulder patches and stripes on their underwings. They have reddish irises with a black ring around their eyes and black bills. Their feet are cream. Females have slightly darker plumage and grayer crowns.
- Length:34-37 cm.
- Weight: 217-333 g.
- Wingspan: 84-89 cm.
Habitat: Letter-winged Kites inhabit sparsely forested dry grasslands and arid plains and are occasionally sighted along the coast.
Conservation: The IUCN has listed the Letter-winged Kite as Near Threatened (NT) due to competition for prey with foxes and overgrazing.
Distribution: Letter-winged Kites are endemic to Australia.
4.4. White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus)
Description: White-tailed Kites have gray upper bodies with black shoulder patches, white under bodies, long white tails, large heads with black around their eyes, and black bills with yellow ceres and feet. Their underwings are black-tipped. The sexes are alike, but females’ backs are darker.
- Length: 35-43 cm.
- Weight: 250-380 g.
- Wingspan: 88-102 cm.
Similar to:
- Black-winged Kites. Their ranges do not overlap.
- Black-shouldered Kites (Australian). Their ranges do not overlap.
- Mississippi Kites. White-tailed Kites have whiter heads and blacker shoulders than Mississippi Kites.
Habitat: White-tailed Kites can be found in savannas, woodlands, marshes, grasslands, cleared lands, and fields.
Conservation: The IUCN has listed the White-tailed as Least Concern (LC).
5. Genus Gampsonyx
There is only one species in this Genus.
5.1. Pearl Kite (Gampsonyx swainsonii)
Description: Pearl Kites have blackish upperparts, crowns, wings, and tails. Their cheeks, foreheads, and thighs are rufous-edged, and their lower bodies are white. Their irises are reddish, their ceres are black, and their legs are yellow. The sexes are alike, but females are larger.
- Length: 20-28 cm.
- Weight: 80-95 g.
- Wingspan: 45-55 cm.
Habitat: Pearl Kites can be found in various habitats, including dry regions, forests, grasslands, savannas, and shrublands. They can also be seen in urban parklands.
Conservation: The IUCN has listed the Pearl Kites as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution. Pearl Kites are found in Central and South America, from Panama to northern Argentina.
6. Genus Haliastur
6.1. Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)
Description. Brahminy Kites have chestnut upperparts with black primaries and lower bellies and tails, white heads, necks, breasts, and upper bellies. They have very pale bills, ceres and feet. Sexes are alike, but females are larger.
- Length: 45-51 cm.
- Weight : 320-670 g.
- Wingspan: 109-124 cm.
Habitat: Brahminy Kites are found in various habitats, including estuaries, forests, swamps, marshes, plains, and urban areas. They are commonly found in forests and farmlands in the tropics.
Conservation: The IUCN has listed the Brahminy Kites as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution. The Brahminy Kites are found in southern and southeastern Asia, including countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and China. They can also be spotted in the Bismarck Archipelago, Feni Islands, Green Islands, and Solomon Islands, as well as in the northern and eastern parts of Australia.
6.2. Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)
Description: Whistling Kites have brown upper parts and light brown heads, necks, underwings, and tails. They have dark flight feathers with light wing coverts. Immatures have pale spots on their wings. They have been named because of their whistling call, normally given in flight. The sexes are alike, but females are slightly larger.
- Length: 51-59 cm.
- Weight : 380-1050 g.
- Wingspan: 123-146 cm.
Habitat: Whistling Kites mainly inhabit lightly wooded areas and open habitats, often near water, particularly marine wetlands.
Conservation: The IUCN has listed the Whistling Kites as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution. Whistling Kites occur throughout Australia, New Caledonia, and New Guinea.
7. Genus Hamirostra
7.1. Black-breasted Kite and Black-breasted Buzzard (Hamirostra melanosternon)
Description. Black-breasted Kites are birds with mostly black feathers, rufous napes, mottled rufous backs, and shoulders. They have thick white panels near the end of their wings that contrast with their wings. They are heavy-built birds with short tails, large bills, and feet. Females are larger and slightly heavier than the males.
- Length: 51-61 cm.
- Weight: 1150-1450 g.
- Wingspan: 141-156 cm.
Habitat Black-breasted Kites are found in arid to semi-arid woodlands surrounded by mid-dense shrublands, riparian forests, grassy plains, and River Red Gums.
Conservation: The IUCN has listed the Black-breasted Kites as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution. Black-breasted Kites are endemic to Australia.
8. Genus Harpagus
These are small kites. They have pale tails with dark bars, white throats with dark stripes down the middle, blunt bills, and two notches on each side of their upper mandibles.
8.1. Double-toothed Kite (Harpagus bidentatus)
Description: Double-toothed Kites have blackish upper bodies, gray heads with white throats with a dark stripe down their center, rufous upper breasts, whitish lower breasts, and bellies with gray bars. They have dark under-tails with white barring. Their eyes are red, theirceresgreenish yellow, and their legs and feet yellow. The females are more richly colored and larger than the males.
- Length: 29-35 cm.
- Weight: 160-200 g.
- Wingspan: 60-72 cm.
Habitat: Double-toothed Kites inhabit mature and subtropical forests. They occur less often at the edges of woods, clearings, or scrubland woodlands.
Conservation: The IUCN has listed the Double-toothed Kites as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Double-toothed Kites can be found in numerous countries including Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.
8.2. Rufous-thighed Kite (Harpagus diodon)
Description: The Rufous-thighed Kites are birds with a slate grey head, upper body, and tail with three gray bars with white-tipped feathers. Their throats are white with a median stripe, their breasts are grey, and their thighs are rufous. They have red or orange eyes and lemon yellow ceres, and their legs range from yellow to orange. The females are slightly larger.
- Length: 29-35 cm.
- Weight: 300 to 400 g g.
- Wingspan: 60-70 cm.
Habitat: Rufous-thighed Kites are primarily found in tropical or subtropical lowland forests and secondary forests with closed canopies.
Conservation: The IUCN has listed the Rufous-thighed Kites as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Rufous-thighed Kites occur when:
- Breeding – South Brazil,northern Argentina, Paraguay, and easternBolivia.
- Wintering – North to the Amazon basin, as far north and west as Venezuela, Colombia, and the Guiana Shield.
9. Genus Helicolestes
There is only one species in this Genus.
9.1. Slender-billed Kite (Helicolestes hamatus)
Description: Slender-billed Kites have mostly slate gray plumage, a long, slender yellow bill with a black tip, yellow eyes, and ceres. They have broad oval wings and a short tail with a wide white stripe. The females are larger than the males, and the immature ones have more stripes on their tails.
- Length: 35-41 cm.
- Weight: 377-488 g.
- Wingspan: 80-90 cm.
Similar to Snail Kites(male). Slender-billed Kites have shorter tails than Snail Kites.
Habitat: Slender-billed Kites inhabit shallow lagoons and drying flooded areas. They also occur in rainforests, on the edge of swampy forests, and wooded plantations.
Conservation: The IUCN has listed the Slender-billed Kites as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution. Slender-billed Kites occur in northern and Central America, from far eastern Panama.
10. Genus Ictinia
10.1. Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis)
Description. Mississippi Kites have dark gray upper bodies, lighter gray underbodies, and red eyes and legs. Their underwings are also lighter gray with dark tips. Sexes are alike, but the males’ heads and napes are paler.
- Length: 30-37 cm.
- Weight: 214-388 g.
- Wingspan: average 91 cm.
Similar to:
- Plumbeous Kites. Plumbeous Kites have rufous on primaries; Mississippi Kites have not much rufous.
- White-tailed Kites. White-tailed Kites have whiter heads and blacker shoulders than Mississippi Kites.
Habitat: Mississippi Kites live in various habitats, such as woodlands, forests, prairies, and savannas.
Conservation: The IUCN has listed the Mississippi Kites as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution. Mississippi Kites occur when:
- Breeding – central and southern United States, especially the Great Plains, the southern New England states.
- Wintering – travel to southern subtropical South America, mostly to Argentina and Brazil.
10.2. Plumbeous Kite (Ictinia Plumbea)
Description: Plumbeous Kites have slate grey plumage, red eyes, orange legs, and dark tails with two to three white bars and rufous primary feathers. The sexes are alike, but the females are larger.
- Length: 34-37.5 cm.
- Weight: 190-267 g.
- Wingspan: 84-94 cm.
Similar to Mississippi Kites. Plumbeous Kites have rufous on primaries; Mississippi Kites have a little rufous.
Habitat: Plumbeous Kites inhabit lowland forests, forest edges, and savannas.
Conservation: The IUCN has listed the Plumbeous Kites as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution. Plumbeous Kites occur when:
- Breeding – from Mexico to Bolivia, northern Argentina, and southern Brazil.
- Wintering – move to Tropical South America.
11. Genus Leptodon
11.1. Gray-headed Kite (Leptodon cayanensis)
Description: Gray-headed Kites are birds with black upper bodies and grey heads. They have black tails with two or three white bars and white tips. The irises of these birds are blue-grey to blue-black, their cere, facial skin, and legs are blue-grey, and they have dark bills. The underwings of Gray-headed Kites are pale in color and feature black flight feathers with white bars. Immatures come in three different morphs.
- Length: 46-53 cm.
- Weight: 410-605 g.
- Wingspan: 90-110 cm.
Habitat: Gray-headed Kites inhabit rainforests, swamp forests, and open woodland, especially near water.
Conservation: The IUCN has listed the Gray-headed Kites as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution. Gray-headed Kites occupy Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, and northern Argentina.
11.2. White-collared Kite (Leptodon forbesi)
Description: White-collared Kites have black upper bodies, gray heads, white hind necks, and underbodies. Their under-wings are pale and have black flight feathers with white bars. These birds have gray tails with broad, black subterminal bands and whitish tips (or two white bands with a narrow black one between them). On the other hand, White-necked Kites have black bills, yellow eyes, ceres, and feet.
- Length: 49-50 cm.
- Weight: 550-580 g.
- Wingspan: 90 to 110 cm.
Habitat: White-collared Kites inhabit coastal rainforests where there are rivers and mangroves.
Conservation: The IUCN has listed the White-collared Kite as Endangered (EN) due to deforestation, logging, and hunting.
Distribution. White-collared Kites occur in northeast Brazil.
12. Genus Lophoictinia
There is only one species in this genus.
12.1. Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura)
Description: Square-tailed Kites have whitish forecrowns, faces, and rufous napes and underbodies. Their bills are black with a pink base, pale yellowish hazel irises, and whitish ceres. Their underwings feature rufous-brown linings, dark carpal crescents, and boldly barred fingers. Additionally, they have pale white on the ventral surfaces of their wings. Their tails are square-shaped, with dark sub-terminal bands.
- Length – 50-56 cm.
- Weight: 501-680 g.
- Wingspan: 131-146 cm.
Habitat: Square-tailed Kites specialize in canopy-dwelling. They can be found in open sclerophyll forests, woodlands, scrub, heathland, and savannah. They are seldom seen on the ground and can also be found in urban areas such as golf courses and parks.
Conservation: The IUCN has listed the Square-tailed Kites as the Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Square-tailed Kites are endemic to Australia.
13. Genus Milvus
13.1. Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
Description: Black Kites have brown upper bodies, paler heads with dark eye patches, and brown underbodies. They have black bills and yellowish ceres.
- Length: 44-66 cm.
- Weight: 630-928 g.
- Wingspan: 120-153 cm.
Similar to Yellow-billed Kites. Black Kites have black bills, whereas Yellow-billed Kites have yellow bills.
Habitat: Black Kites can be found in various habitats, including semi-desert, grassland, savanna, woodland, and aquatic habitats, such as rivers, lakes, wetlands, and meadows.
Conservation: The IUCN has listed the Black Kites as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Black Kites are widespread throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
13.2. Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
Description: Red Kites have dark brown upper bodies and long, forked reddish-brown tails. Their lower bodies are reddish-brown with lighter undertails. They have greyish heads with yellow bills, black tips, and yellow feet. Additionally, they have white primary feathers with black tips.
- Length: 60-70 cm.
- Weight: 800-1200 g.
- Wingspan: 179-179 cm.
Habitat: Red Kites inhabit open and broadleaf woodlands, mixed farmlands, scrubs, and wetlands.
Conservation: The IUCN has listed the Red Kites as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution. Red Kites occur in Europe and northwestern Africa.
13.3. Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus aegyptius)
Description: Yellow-billed Kites have brown upper bodies, paler heads with dark eye patches, and brown underbodies. They have yellow bills and yellowish ceres.
- Length: 55-60 cm.
- Weight: 630-940 g.
- Wingspan: 140-150 cm.
Similar to Black Kites. Black Kites have black bills; Yellow-billed Kites have yellow bills.
Habitat: Black Kites inhabit most highly wooded areas, including suburbia and densely populated rural areas.
Conservancy. The IUCN has listed the Yellow-billed Kites as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution. Yellow-billed Kites occur:
- Breeding – Europe, Asia, Siberia, and China.
- Wintering – sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and Southern Africa
14. Genus Rostrhamus
There is only one species in this Genus.
14.1. Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)
Description: Snail Kites have slate-colored plumage, with their heads slightly darker. They have long, broad, rounded, dark wings with black primaries. They have white rumps, and long black tails edged with white. Their legs and ceres are red and have long, slender, hooked bills. Sexes are alike, but the females are larger.
- Length: 36-48 cm.
- Weight: 300-570 g.
- Wingspan: 99-120 cm.
Similar to:
- Hook-billed Kites. Hook-billed Kites and Snail Kites both have hooked bills that enable them to eat snails.
- Slender-billed Kites. Slender-billed Kites have shorter tails than Snail Kites.
Habitat: Snail Kites inhabit fresh wetlands, including shallow lake edges and freshwater marshes.They are also frequently seen along roads, where fences provide perches and adjacent channels with snails.
Conservation: The IUCN has listed the Snail Kites as Least Concern (LC).
Distribution: Snail Kites are year-round residents in most of their range, breeding in South America, the Caribbean, and Florida. During winter, southernmost populations migrate north, while Caribbean birds disperse widely after breeding.
