Pearl Kite

Overview

The pearl kite, Gampsonyx swainsonii, is a very small raptor found in open savanna habitat adjacent to deciduous woodland in Central and South America. It is the sole member of the genus Gampsonyx and holds the distinction of being the smallest raptor in the Americas.

Identification

• Adult plumage features a black crown, upperparts, wings, and tail, contrasting with mainly white underparts.
• Distinctive facial markings include a yellow forehead and cheeks, along with a rufous-edged white collar.
• Legs are yellow, and the bird reaches a length of 20.3–23 cm.
• In flight, the species appears primarily black above and white below.

Habitat

This tiny kite breeds from Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela south to Bolivia and northern Argentina, with an isolated sedentary population in Nicaragua. It inhabits open savanna adjacent to deciduous woodland and has expanded its range to include Trinidad and the Pacific slope of Costa Rica.

Diet

The pearl kite feeds mainly on lizards, such as Anolis and geckos, with Microlophus occipitalis being its most common prey. It also consumes small birds, frogs, and insects, typically foraging by swooping from a high open perch.

Did you know?

The species is the smallest raptor in the Americas and one of only two smallest accipitrids in the world, a title it shares with the little sparrowhawk.