Kite (bird)
Kites are raptors. They have long wings and weak legs. They spend most of the time soaring. Most feed mainly on carrion. Some take live prey.
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| Black kite | |
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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
- Genus Elanus
- 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
- Red kite, Milvus milvus
- Genus Lophoictinia
- Square-tailed kite, Lophoictinia isura
- Genus Hamirostra
- 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
Kite (bird) Media
Black kite (Milvus migrans) soaring, view from Kani Top, Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, India
