Kite (bird)
| Kite | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Milvus migrans | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Accipitriformes |
| Family: | Accipitridae |
Kite is a common name for birds of the family Accipitridae.[1]
Some authors use the terms "hovering kite" and "soaring kite" to distinguish between Elanus and the milvine kites, respectively. The groups may also be differentiated by size, referring to milvine kites as "large kites", and elanine kites as "small kites".
- 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 - often classified in Perninae
- Swallow-tailed kite, Elanoides forficatus
- Genus Elanus
- Subfamily Milvinae
- Genus Harpagus
- Double-toothed kite, Harpagus bidentatus
- Rufous-thighed kite, Harpagus diodon
- Genus Ictinia – possibly belongs in Buteoninae
- Mississippi kite, Ictinia mississippiensis
- Plumbeous kite, Ictinia plumbea
- Genus Rostrhamus – possibly belongs in Buteoninae
- 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
- Red kite, Milvus milvus
- Genus Lophoictinia – possibly belongs in Perninae
- Square-tailed kite, Lophoictinia isura
- Genus Hamirostra – possibly belongs in Perninae
- Black-breasted buzzard, Hamirostra melanosternon
- Genus Harpagus
A few of the Perninae are also called kites.
- Grey-headed kite, Leptodon cayanensis
- White-collared kite, Leptodon forbesi
- Hook-billed kite, Chondrohierax uncinatus
In Mythology
Isis is said in Ancient Egyptian mythology to have taken the form of a kite in various situations in order to resurrect the dead.[2]
References
- ↑ "kite". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2014. Web. 24 Nov. 2014 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/319664/kite>.
- ↑ "Isis the Goddess." Egyptian Gods. Siteseen Ltd., June 2014. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. <http://www.landofpyramids.org/isis.htm>.
External links
- Weekly Radio Segments from With the Wild Things: Kites
- Kite videos on the Internet Bird Collection
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