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Black-shouldered KiteSize: 35-38 cm; wing span 80-95 cm Weight: 200-350 g |
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Description
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
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 Click here for a physical description
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
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Click here for sighting information
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Photos |
Not the photos you want? Or are you after even better quality? Have a
look here 
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Close-up frontal portrait of an adult 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]
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]
Lateral/ventral view of a Black-shouldered Kite perched high up in a
eucalypt
tree; as seen from slightly below, the bird appears to be
almost entirely white
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2007]
Slightly different viewing angle of the same Black-shouldered Kite
as shown above
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2007]
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]
Frontal view of a hovering Black-shouldered Kite, different phase
of the wingbeat
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, June 2013]
Black-shouldered Kite in flight seen from underneath
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, November 2012]
Lateral view of a Black-shouldered Kite in flight, displaying its
upperwing pattern
[Goran Lake, NSW, May 2013]
Lateral view of a Black-shouldered Kite in flight
[Goran Lake, NSW, May 2013]
Near-dorsal view of a Black-shouldered Kite's upperwing pattern
[Near Bellata, NSW, June 2016]
Dorsal view of an hovering Black-shouldered Kite (photo
courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, August 2016]
Different dorsal view of a Black-shouldered Kite in flight
[Goran Lake, NSW, April 2012]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
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 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]
Dorsal view of a juvenile Black-shouldered Kite
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2011]
Dorsal/ventral view of a juvenile Black-shouldered Kite
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Near Narrabri, NSW, June 2021]
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]
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]
Juvenile Black-shouldered Kite hovering...
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2011]
Juvenile Black-shouldered Kite now preparing to strike
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2011]
Here a different phase of the wing beat - 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]
Juvenile Black-shouldered Kite with its "landing gear out"
(larger version available on request)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2011]
Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Black-shouldered Kite; this is the bird
whose begging
calls recorded on 27 November 2014
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2014]
Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Black-shouldered Kite; this is the bird
whose begging
calls recorded on 27 November 2014
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2014]
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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 |
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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]
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
| Type: Basket | Material: Sticks; green leaves, bark lining | Height above ground: 5 - 20? m |
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 rain.
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]
Here a nosy Peewee
(Magpie-lark) is checking out the Black-shouldered Kite nest
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Maules Creek, NSW, April 2015]
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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]
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Behaviour |
| Social behaviour: Territorial | Mobility: Sedentary | Elementary unit: Pair |
In June 2006 we saw a pair of Black-shouldered Kites hunting together along a roadside, both facing into the wind and hovering across the grass verge of the 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.
Pair of Black-shouldered Kites hunting together
[Near Narrabri, NSW, 2006]
Pair of Black-shouldered Kites perched together
[Goran Lake, NSW, April 2013]
Black-shouldered Kite wagging its tail
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2012]
After a violent thunderstorm we found a Black-shouldered Kite, which usually prefer to sit on high perches, on a star picket, soaking wet. It needed to dry its plumage before flying off.
Soaking wet Black-shouldered Kite
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]
The same Black-shouldered Kite as shown above, now with its inner
eyelid closed
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]
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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.
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]
Immature Black-shouldered Kite with its prey, a mouse
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2008]
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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_20210513.m4a | (NW NSW) | Contact calls (+ Pied Butcherbird) | © MD | |
| blshkit_20210226.m4a | (NW NSW) | Contact calls (+ dog) | © MD | |
| blshkit_20150715.m4a | (NW NSW) | Territorial call sequence(?) | © MD | |
| blshkit_20180106.m4a | (NW NSW) | Going to roost (late dusk) | © MD | |
| blshkit_20141127.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Begging call (juvenile) | © MD | |
| blshkit_20141127_3.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Begging call (juvenile) | © MD | |
| blshkit_20141127_4.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Begging calls (juvenile) | © MD |
More Black-shouldered Kite sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.