Kite (bird)

Kites are raptors with long wings and weak legs which spend a great deal of time soaring. Most feed mainly on carrion but some take various amounts of live prey.

They are birds of prey which, along with hawks and eagles, are from the family Accipitridae.

Species list

• Subfamily Elaninae
  • Genus Elanus
    • Black-winged Kite, Elanus caeruleus
    • Black-shouldered Kite, Elanus axillaris
    • White-tailed Kite, Elanus leucurus
    • Letter-winged Kite, Elanus scriptus
  • Genus Chelictinia
    • Scissor-tailed Kite, Chelictinia riocourii
  • Genus Machaerhamphus
    • Bat Hawk, Machaerhamphus alcinus
  • Genus Gampsonyx
    • Pearl Kite, Gampsonyx swainsonii
  • Genus Elanoides
    • Swallow-tailed Kite, Elanoides forficatus
• Subfamily Milvinae
  • Genus Harpagus
    • Double-toothed Kite, Harpagus bidentatus
    • Rufous-thighed Kite, Harpagus diodon
  • Genus Ictinia
    • Mississippi Kite, Ictinia mississippiensis
    • Plumbeous Kite, Ictinia plumbea
  • Genus Rostrhamus
    • Snail Kite, Rostrhamus sociabilis
  • Genus Helicolestes
    • Slender-billed Kite, Helicolestes hamatus - formerly in Rostrhamus
  • Genus Haliastur
    • Whistling Kite, Haliastur sphenurus
    • Brahminy Kite, Haliastur indus
  • Genus Milvus
    • Red Kite, Milvus milvus
      • Cape Verde Kite, Milvus (milvus) fasciicauda - extinct (2000)
    • Black Kite, Milvus migrans
    • Black-eared Kite, Milvus (migrans) lineatus
    • Yellow-billed Kite, Milvus (migrans) aegyptius
  • Genus Lophoictinia
    • Square-tailed Kite, Lophoictinia isura
  • Genus Hamirostra
    • Black-breasted Buzzard, Hamirostra melanosternon

A few of the Perninae are also called kites.

• Grey-headed Kite, Leptodon cayanensis
• White-collared Kite, Leptodon forbesi
• Hook-billed Kite, Chondrohierax uncinatus

External links

• Weekly Radio Segments from With the Wild Things: Kites
• Kite videos on the Internet Bird Collection