BLACK-WINGED KITE

 

Photographed at Arey Ksat, Cambodia, November 2023

(* 349)           BLACK-WINGED KITE       Elanus caeruleus

CAMBODIA              26 

Also known as Black-shouldered Kite, once considered as part of one species with Australian Black-shouldered Kite and the White-tailed Kite of North and South America. Ranges open land and semi-desert in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical Asia, and established in Spain and Portugal, expanding in southern Europe. 

LETTER-WINGED KITE

Photographed in Victoria, April 2017

1182                   LETTER-WINGED KITE                Elanus scriptus   

AUSTRALIA                707

Found in grasslands, with trees; tree-lined watercourses. 30-38 cm, wingspan 90 cm.  range: s. Barkly Tableland (NT); Georgina R.-Diamantina R. drainage of far w Q to L Eyre Basin of ne SA. 

NOTE:  Eruptive when population of long-haired rats increase. 

BRAHMINY KITE

Photographed Langkawi 2017

(*   206/888)            BRAHMINY KITE              Haliastur indus

MALAYSIA               24

Common raptor along coastal areas, but can also be found inland, above rice fields, former tin mining wetlands and cities/towns with urban wetlands. 45 cm. Common resident at low elevation throughout Malaysia.

BRAHMINY KITE

Subspecies indus, photographed March 2017

(*    888)               BRAHMINY KITE             Haliastur indus

SRI LANKA                   15

Found near water mainly in coastal areas and large inland wetlands, also along rivers. 48 cm. Locally common breeding resident in lowlands, and rare but regular visitor to the hills.

BLACK KITE

Photographed in Kathmandu, Nepal March 2017

(97)                   BLACK KITE                 Milvus migrans

NEPAL          21

Mainly occurs around cities and villages, closely associated with habitat; feeds mainly on offal and refuse but is omnivorous; bold scavenger, can swoop and turn with amazing dexterity when snatching food. 58-66 cm.  Resident in south, passage visitor in central and summer visitor in north.

BLACK-WINGED KITE

Photographed in Singapore November 2016

(see 349)               BLACK-WINGED KITE              Elands caeruleus

SINGAPORE               (29)

Known in Australia as Black-shouldered Kite. Found in open secondary scrub, grasslands, occasionally freshwater marshes. 31-36 cm. Widespread across Eurasia and Africa, from S Europe, Africa and the Indian sub-continent to S China, Southeast Asia, east to New Guinea.

BRAHMINY KITE

Photographed in Singapore November 2016

(888)               BRAHMINY KITE                 Haliastur indus

SINGAPORE               (25)

Found in secondary forest, scrub, mangroves, old plantations; often seen in flight over urban areas. 44-52 cm. Distribution: Indian sub-continent, S China, and much of coastal Southeast Asia, east to New Guinea, Bismarck Islands and Australia.

SQUARE-TAILED KITE

Photographed at Mount Malloy, Queensland October 2015

675           SQUARE-TAILED KITE           Lophoictinia insurer

Australia          (517)

Found in heathlands, woodlands, forests; tropical and sub-tropical forests; timbered watercourses; hills and gorges. 50-60 cm; wingspan to 1.3 m. Range: uncommon to rare and sparse, In coastal and sub-coastal se Aust. and sw. WA it is rare but regular breeding migrant. Sedentary; part-migratory. Rare.

BLACK-BREASTED BUZZARD

Photographed near Cue, Western Australia April 2015

568        BLACK-BREASTED BUZZARD                 Hamirostra melanosternon

Australia               (411)

Also known as Black-breasted Kite. Found in grasslands, sandhills, gibber deserts; timbered watercourses and waterholes;tropical woodlands; sparsely vegetated offshore islands; coasts. Ranges across e. inland Aust., coastal n. and w. Aust; se. Q., s. NSW, s. WA. 51-61 cm; windspan c. 1.5 m; female larger.

YELLOW-BILLED KITE

462            YELLOW-BILLED KITE               Milvus parasitus or Milvus aegyptius

South Africa           (161)

50-58 cm. Summer visitor to most of Southern Africa. Found in forest edges to grasslands, common in densely populated areas, scavenges, roadkill and picnicers, attracted by fires.

WHISTLING KITE

407             WHISTLING KITE                 Haliastur sphenurus

Australia              (281)

Also incorrectly called the Whistling Eagle. Ranges over most of Australia, except the driest inland of WA and SA. Found in open forests, foothills, usually near water, timbered watercourses, lakes, tidal inlets, swamps and mudflats. 50-60 cm, wingspan 1.2 m.

BLACK-WINGED KITE

349           BLACK-WINGED KITE       Elanus caeruleus

South Africa          (42)

Also known as Black-shouldered Kite, once considered as part of one species with Australian Black-shouldered Kite and the White-tailed Kite of North and South America. Ranges open land and semi-desert in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical Asia, and established in Spain and Portugal, expanding in southern Europe. 

BRAHMINY KITE

Photographed at Palm Beach, Queensland, July 2014

206      BRAHMINY KITE        Haliastur indus         

Australia       (206)

Also known as Red-backed Kite. 43-51 cm, span 1.2 m, female larger. Found around the coast from Carnarvon (WA) across the top and down to Newcastle (NSW). Found beaches, estuaries, tidal sand flats, mangroves, rivers and towns.

BLACK KITE

97       BLACK KITE         Milvus migrans

Australia    (97)

Also known as Fork-tailed Kite, Kite-hawk, Pariah Kite (India). 48-55 cm, wingspan to 1.2 m. Also found in Eurasia and Africa. In Australia range is over most of mainland except se corner and bottom e of WA. Found in grasslands, gibber, sandhills, around homesteads, along country roads and about orchards. 

BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE

48         BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE                Elanus axillaris

Australia    (48)

Ranges all over mainland Australia. Found in grassland with trees, farms, roadways, sewerage farms, suburban paddocks. 33-38 cm, wingspan to 90cm.