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Posts Tagged ‘Black-winged Kite’

The Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers. This species was formerly referred to as the Black-shouldered Kite, but this name is now only used for the Australian species. This bird is unmistakable. It has a white head with a black “mask”, and white underparts except for black tips to its narrow falcon-like wings.Upperparts are blue-grey except for black shoulder patches. It takes live prey such as small mammals, birds and insects. The slow hunting flight is like a harrier, but it will hover like a Kestrel. The tail is short and square, quite unlike the more familiar Milvus kites. This bird was seen at the Koshi Tappu, Sunsari, Nepal. Birds of Nepal…Black-winged Kite