Kite (bird)
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| Black kite | |
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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.
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