Elanid kite
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| iElanid kites | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Swallow-tailed Kite
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||
|
An elanid kite, sometimes white-tailed kite, is any of several small, long-winged, hovering raptors. All are specialist rodent hunters and most are members of the genus Elanus. Some authorities list the group as a formal subfamily, Elaninae.
Elanid kites have a near-worldwide distribution, with three endemic species found in the Americas, two in Australia, one each in Africa and southern Asia, while the Black-winged Kite is found over a vast range from Europe and Africa in the west to South-east Asia in the east.
[edit] Species
- Black-winged Kite, Elanus caeruleus
- Black-shouldered Kite, Elanus axillaris
- White-tailed Kite, Elanus leucurus
- Letter-winged Kite, Elanus scriptus
- Scissor-tailed Kite, Chelictinia riocourii
- Bat Hawk, Machaerhamphus alcinus
- Pearl Kite, Gampsonyx swainsonii
- Swallow-tailed Kite, Elanoides forficatus
