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6

Black-winged Kite

(Elanus caeruleus)
Alternate name(s): The name Black-shouldered Kite should
be reserved for the Australian species, Elanus axillaris.
German name(s): "Gleitaar"

Size: 31-36 cm; wing span 76-88 cm
Weight: 260 g (average)

Similar
species

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

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Booted Eagle at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "caeruleus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of a Black-winged Kite with its prey, a small bird (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2020]

Close-up Lateral view of a Black-winged Kite (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2021]

Lateral view of a Black-winged Kite (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, October 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Black-winged Kite (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2018]

Dorsal view of a Black-winged Kite looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2022]

Frontal view of a Black-winged Kite in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]

Frontal view of a hovering Black-winged Kite (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]

Frontal view of a hovering Black-winged Kite (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Black-winged Kite in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2015]

Near-lateral view of a Black-winged Kite in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2017]

Lateral view of a Black-winged Kite in flight with its prey, a small bird (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2020]

Lateral view of a Black-winged Kite in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2019]

Lateral view of a Black-winged Kite in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]

Lateral/ventral view of a Black-winged Kite in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Black-winged Kite in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, December 2019]

Dorsal view of a Black-winged Kite in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2022]

Ventral view of a Black-winged Kite in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sado estuary, Zambujal, Portugal, March 2020]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Close-up frontal view of an immature Black-winged Kite with its prey; the underparts have already moulted, but the wings still show the white margins of juvenile feathers (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Frontal view of an immature Black-winged Kite with its prey looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Near-lateral view of an immature Black-winged Kite (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Near-lateral view of an immature Black-winged Kite (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Lateral view of an immature Black-winged Kite (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, July 2019]

Dorsal view of an immature Black-winged Kite (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]

Dorsal view of an immature Black-winged Kite (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Black-winged Kite; note the ochre things on breast and nape of the neck (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Moita do Ribatejo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, June 2019]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Black-winged Kite in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Moita do Ribatejo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, June 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Black-winged Kite in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Moita do Ribatejo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, June 2019]

Behaviour

Predators are territorial birds who will defend their territory against intruders, in particular competitors for food. They are dispersive in response to the appearance of rodents but, except for the southern tip of India, can breed throughout their range.

Aerial combat between a Black-winged Kite, bottom, and a female Common Kestrel (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2019]

Food, Diet

Action shot of a Black-winged Kite catching a small bird off-guard (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2017]

Near-lateral view of an immature Black-winged Kite plucking its prey (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Near-lateral view of an immature Black-winged Kite plucking its prey (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Near-lateral view of an immature Black-winged Kite plucking its prey (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

Lateral view of an immature Black-winged Kite plucking its prey (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, August 2019]

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.

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