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Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris) Size: 35-38 cm; wing span 80-95 cm Body mass: 200-350 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: ca. 0.31-0.40

Australia: Family Group 6 Family Group 6 Table Osprey Brahminy Kite Whistling Kite Little Eagle Black Kite Square-tailed Kite Black-breasted Buzzard Wedge-tailed Eagle White-bellied Sea-Eagle Spotted Harrier Swamp Harrier Black-shouldered Kite Letter-winged Kite Pacific Baza Collared Sparrowhawk Brown Goshawk Grey Goshawk Red Goshawk Nankeen Kestrel Australian Hobby Peregrine Falcon Brown Falcon Grey Falcon Black Falcon Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Black-shouldered Kites are small raptors with white, grey and black plumage. The front (i.e., head, throat, breast, belly and vent) are all white, except for a small black eye patch. The back (nape of the neck, mantle, tail) is grey, while the wings are grey, with a black shoulder patch. The eyes are conspicuously red, the bill grey and the leg and feet yellow, with black talons. The underwing shows white coverts, grey flight feathers and a black patch at the base of the primaries, which are darker grey than the rest of the wings. Juvenile Black-shouldered Kites have a brown cap and breast and scalloped upperwings. Twitcher's tip The only difference between Black-shouldered Kites and Letter-winged Kites visible from a distance is the underwing pattern of black-tipped wings instead of a black "W" on the coverts. Upon closer inspection, the black patches around the eyes of Black-shouldered Kites extend behind the eyes, those of Letter-winged Kites don't. In addition, Black-shouldered Kites have yellow legs and feet, those of Letter-winged Kites are whitish.

Taxonomy, classification See Black-shouldered Kite at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Black-shouldered Kite is available HERE . Black-shouldered Kites are endemic to Australia. They can be found basically anywhere on the Australian continent and also on islands in the Bass Strait and along the North coast of Tasmania. They are rarest in the most arid part of the continent, i.e. in the major sandy deserts from about the Pilbara region in WA to the Nullarbor, where they venture only in good years, when prey is in abundance. Their breeding range is restricted to two major areas: the South-east of Australia, along the coastal fringe from Eyre Peninsula in SA to subtropical south-eastern QLD, including parts of the Great Dividing Range and of the Murray-Darling Basin, and the south-western corner of WA. Black-shouldered Kites are versatile hunters in habitats ranging from open woodland to desert environments. They are often seen hovering above open grassland (also paddocks) and agricultural crops. Where to look? How to find this species? Black-shouldered Kites can be found most easily in two ways. They are one of a few species of raptors that will hover in a fixed position with slightly flapping wings to dive on prey on the ground. If a bird showing such behaviour is mostly white, with black wingtips, it is most likely a Black-shouldered Kite. They also like to perch in exposed positions, high up in trees, e.g. in farmland with scattered trees or on power poles and power lines, often near roadsides. Compared to Nankeen Kestrels, Black-shouldered Kites tend to prefer higher perches.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Black-shouldered Kites are amongst the most common raptors in the area of Narrabri, NSW, and are seen there by us regularly. We first noticed that in years of drought they become scarce. But in 2020-2022, which were 3 consecutive years of record rainfall, they were also scarce. A family with three juvenile birds was observed by us at Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri in October 2010. The young ones were screeching, begging for food with such a volume that one could find them from about half a kilometre away. Another pair was found nesting about 1 km from the previous breeding site at Eulah Creekstarting in July 2023. Although, according to field guides, as abundant in coastal areas as inland, Black-shouldered Kites were first spotted by us on the NSW coastline (at Urunga, NSW) only in January 2011, whereas inland we had seen them regularly for many years. R. Plumtree reports spotting Black-shouldered Kites regularly in the area of Ensay, East Gippsland, VIC. J. Greaves reports spotting a Black-shouldered Kite at Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, in August 2015, and at Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, in August 2016. M. Eaton reports spotting a Black-shouldered Kite at Moggill Forest Reserve, near Anstead, QLD, in May 2018, and one near Kingaroy, QLD, in June 2018. In January 2020 Black-shouldered Kites were found at the Spit, Gold Coast, QLD, with juveniles. Another was found in Lamington NP, Gold Coast, QLD, in October 2024. P. Brown found a Black-shouldered Kite at Fogg Dam CR, NT, in August 2021. M. Eaton spotted a Black-shouldered Kite at Robe, SA, in April 2022 and a pair with juveniles at Bourke, NSW, in June 2022. Many Black-shouldered Kites have been found over the years in inland QLD. C. Pears found a pair of Black-shouldered Kites in City Beach, Perth, WA, in August 2024.

Photos

ADULT

PAIR

Frontal view of a pair of Black-shouldered Kites looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2023]

Pair of Black-shouldered Kites perched together
[Goran Lake, NSW, April 2013]

Dorsal view of a pair of Black-shouldered Kites hunting together
[Near Narrabri, NSW, June2006]

Sex unknown

Close-up frontal portrait of an adult Black-shouldered Kite
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2025]

Close-up frontal portrait of a Black-shouldered Kite (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, August 2015]

Frontal view of a Black-shouldered Kite (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bourke, NSW, June 2022]

Near-frontal view of a Black-shouldered Kite (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Strzelecki Track, 20 km N of Montecollina Bore, SA, June 2022]

Close-up near-frontal view of a Black-shouldered Kite (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, August 2015]

Close-up near-frontal view of a Black-shouldered Kite, now looking down (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Lake Claremont, Perth, WA, August 2015]

Close-up near-lateral portrait of a Black-shouldered Kite
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2025]

Close-up near-lateral/ventral view of a Black-shouldered Kite
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2023]

Lateral view of a Black-shouldered Kite looking straight at the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2023]

Lateral view of a Black-shouldered Kite (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kingaroy, QLD, June 2018]

Lateral view of an adult Black-shouldered Kite (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Robe, SA, April 2022]

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a Black-shouldered Kite
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2023]

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a Black-shouldered Kite
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2023]

Near-dorsal view of a Black-shouldered Kite (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Winton, QLD, August 2022]

Direct comparison between a Black-shouldered Kite, left, and a Letter-winged Kite, right - note the differences in the black eye patch and the colour of the legs/feet; the difference in the appearance of the upperwing patch may be a projection effect
(photos courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Diamantina NP, QLD, August 2019]

Black-shouldered Kite fending off two pesky Blue-faced Honeyeaters (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Lake Barrine, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, July 2020]

Frontal view of a Black-shouldered Kite in flight (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2021]

Frontal view of a hovering Black-shouldered Kite
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, June 2013]

Near-frontal view of a hovering Black-shouldered Kite
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, June 2013]

Near-frontal view of a hovering Black-shouldered Kite
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2024]

Lateral/ventral view of a Black-shouldered Kite in flight
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2012]

Lateral view of a Black-shouldered Kite in flight, wings down
[Goran Lake, NSW, May 2013]

Lateral view of a Black-shouldered Kite in flight, wings flat
[Goran Lake, NSW, May 2013]

Lateral view of a Black-shouldered Kite on the point of diving onto its prey
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2026]

Near-dorsal view of a Black-shouldered Kite's upperwing pattern
[Near Bellata, NSW, June 2016]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Black-shouldered Kite in flight
[Goran Lake, NSW, July 2025]

Dorsal view of a hovering Black-shouldered Kite (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, August 2016]

Dorsal/ventral view of a Black-shouldered Kite in flight
[Goran Lake, NSW, April 2012]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-dorsal view of an immature Black-shouldered Kite looking back; note how the back is still shingled pale-brown, while the head is already turning white (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Lamington NP, Gold Coast, QLD, October 2024]

Near-frontal view of an immature Black-shouldered Kite in flight; note the remnant of its juvenile chestnut breast band, while the cap is already white
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2022]

Frontal view of a juvenile Black-shouldered Kite (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bourke, NSW, June 2022]

Frontal view of a juvenile Black-shouldered Kite (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[The Spit, Gold Coast, QLD, January 2020]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a juvenile Black-shouldered Kite
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2010]

Lateral view of a juvenile Black-shouldered Kite (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[The Spit, Gold Coast, QLD, January 2020]

Lateral view of a juvenile Black-shouldered Kite (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[The Spit, Gold Coast, QLD, January 2020]

Lateral view of a juvenile Black-shouldered Kite
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2026]

Dorsal/ventral view of a juvenile Black-shouldered Kite looking backwards (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Near Narrabri, NSW, June 2021]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Black-shouldered Kite looking backwards
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2026]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Black-shouldered Kite looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2026]

Three juvenile Black-shouldered Kites waiting to be fed...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2010]

... even in the air the racket they were making did not stop
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2010]

Frontal/ventral view of two juvenile Black-shouldered Kites waiting to be fed; these were of an age that they also hunted for themselves, but the parents were still feeding them
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2011]

Frontal view of a hovering juvenile Black-shouldered Kite preparing to strike
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2011]

Near-frontal view of a hovering juvenile Black-shouldered Kite
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2011]

Near-frontal view of a hovering juvenile Black-shouldered Kite - note also the bee...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2011]

The prominent alulas (feathers sticking out at the location of the wing joint) are typical of Black-shouldered Kites
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2011]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a juvenile Black-shouldered Kite with its "landing gear out"
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2011]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Black-shouldered Kite
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2014]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Apr - Nov

Eggs: 2 - 4

Incubation period: 30 - 34 days

Fledging age: ca. 35 days

The period listed in the table above is the core breeding period for Black-shouldered Kites. Depending on geographic latitude and given the right conditions they can in principle breed at any time of the year. They can also raise more than one brood in a good season. Note that, like many Australian raptors they usually nest through the southern winter.

Nest building: ?

Incubation: Female

Dependent care: Female & male

Twitcher's tip

Note that, by the time they fledge (i.e., leave their nest), the young of all species of raptors - apart from the tail and wing feathers (which are still growing) - are already full adult-size.

Territorial aerial fight between two Black-shouldered Kites
[Maules Creek, NSW, February 2015]

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket

Material: Sticks; green leaves, bark lining

Height above ground: 5 - 20? m

Pair of Black-shouldered Kites sitting in a tree top above a disused Torresian Crow nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2023]

Close-up view of a pair of Black-shouldered Kites sitting in a tree top above a disused Torresian Crow nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2023]

Black-shouldered Kite standing its ground against local competition in the form of a Galah and a family of Blue-faced Honeyeaters
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2023]

Black-shouldered Kite on previous season's abandoned Torresian Crow nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2023]

Close-up view of previous season's abandoned Torresian Crow nest selected by a pair of Black-shouldered Kites
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2023]

Black-shouldered Kite guarding the nest site while its partner is on the nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2023]

Black-shouldered Kite nest with a clutch of 5 eggs, laid at the time of a mouse plague (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Goorianawa, near Coonabarabran, NSW, 1980ies]

Black-shouldered Kite nest with a clutch of 5 eggs, laid at the time of a mouse plague (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Goorianawa, near Coonabarabran, NSW, 1980ies]

The chicks shown in the photo below were ready to fledge in the third week of April, implying that the eggs must have been laid around mid-February, about 4 weeks before the region had good rainfall (starting on 10 March), after more than a year of below average rainfall.

Black-shouldered Kite nest with two near-fledging age chicks in the top of a Currajong tree (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Maules Creek, NSW, April 2015]

Frontal view of a Black-shouldered Kite chick testing its wings, shwoing clearly the underwings (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Maules Creek, NSW, April 2015]

Dorsal view of a Black-shouldered Kite chick testing its wings, shwoing clearly the underwings (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Maules Creek, NSW, April 2015]

Magpie-lark checking out the Black-shouldered Kite nest (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Maules Creek, NSW, April 2015]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 41 x 32 mm

Colour: Creamy, with very dense dark-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

"Standard" clutch of 4 eggs in a Black-shouldered Kite nest (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Baradine/Coonamble area, NSW, late 1980ies]

Clutch of 5 eggs in a Black-shouldered Kite nest, laid at the time of a mouse plague (photo courtesy of D. Johnston)
[Goorianawa, near Coonabarabran, NSW, 1980ies]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Pair

At the start of the breeding season, usually in the middle of winter, Black-shouldered Kites (like many other species of raptors) perform a bonding ritual ritual, in which the female, who will take on the bulk of the incubating duties, tests the partner's mettle by begging to be fed. In such a case, the female will use the same begging calls as chicks would do.

Birds, in particular raptors, that hover above their prey will always do so facing into the wind to get optimal air lift.

In June 2006 we saw a pair of Black-shouldered Kites hunting together along a roadside, both hovering above the grass on the verge of a road.

The dependent young of a pair of Black-shouldered Kites were the most demanding young we have seen so far in the bird world. They not only screeched to be fed from their perch, but actively pursued their parents in flight, begging for food, and at the same time hampering their parents' efforts.

After a violent thunderstorm we found a Black-shouldered Kite, which usually prefer to use high perches, on a star picket, soaking wet. It needed to dry its plumage before flying off.

Lateral view of a soaking wet Black-shouldered Kite
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]

Black-shouldered Kite that was brought down by a Brown Falcon
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2025]

Food, Diet

Adults: Mice

Dependents: As adults

Water intake: None

All raptors are carnivores. Black-shouldered Kites prey mostly on mice, but they will also take smaller birds, rats and lizards.

During the first few weeks, raptors feed their chicks with pieces of meat. Later on in their development, the chicks learn to tear apart their parents' prey.

Frontal view of a Black-shouldered Kite plucking its prey
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2023]

Black-shouldered Kite with its prey, a rat (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Lake Barrine, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, July 2020]

Black-shouldered Kite with its prey, probably some kind of dove or pigeon (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Eastlakes Golf Course, Sydney, NSW, September 2013]

Near-frontal/ventral view of an immature Black-shouldered Kite with its prey, a mouse
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2008]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

blshkit_20230729_2.mp3	(NW NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
blshkit_20230728_4.mp3	(NW NSW)	Contact calls (pair)	© MD
blshkit_20250629.m4a	(NW NSW)	Contact + annoyed calls	© MD
blshkit_20150715.m4a	(NW NSW)	Territorial call sequence(?)	© MD
blshkit_20180106.m4a	(NW NSW)	Going to roost (late dusk)	© MD
blshkit_20230729.mp3	(NW NSW)	Warning off Australian Raven (near nest)	© MD
blshkit_20230728_2.mp3	(NW NSW)	Various (pair near nest)	© MD
blshkit_20230727.mp3	(NW NSW)	Begging call (female)	© MD
blshkit_20230727_2.mp3	(NW NSW)	Begging call (female) + response (male)	© MD
blshkit_20251222.m4a	(NW NSW)	Begging calls (juvenile)	© MD
blshkit_20260115.m4a	(NW NSW)	Begging calls (juvenile)	© MD
blshkit_20260115_2.m4a	(NW NSW)	Begging calls (juvenile)	© MD

More Black-shouldered Kite sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.