Black-winged Kite

Overview

The black-winged kite (Elanus caeruleus) is a small diurnal bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, also known as the black-shouldered kite. It is best known for its habit of hovering over open grasslands in the manner of the much smaller kestrels.

Identification

• Predominantly grey or white plumage with black shoulder patches, wing tips, and an eye stripe.
• Long, falcon-like wings that extend beyond the tail when perched.
• A short and square tail that is not forked.
• Large, forward-facing eyes with red irises, placed under a bony shelf that shades them.

Habitat

Primarily inhabits open land and semi-deserts in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical Asia, with a foothold in Spain and Portugal. Although mainly seen on plains, they are sometimes found on grassy slopes in higher elevation regions of Asia, and are not migratory but show nomadism in response to weather and food availability.

Diet

Feeds on grasshoppers, crickets, lizards, and rodents, though it also consumes small snakes, frogs, and injured birds. It hunts by flying slowly like a harrier or hovering like a kestrel, and on rare occasions has been observed hunting prey in flight.

Did you know?

The soft feathers of black-winged kites can adhere to certain grass seeds, potentially allowing the birds to help with seed dispersal, though this can also risk entangling their wings.