English: Taxonomy of Black-winged kite

Scientific Name: Elanus caeruleus Common Name: Black-winged kite Other names: Falco caeruleus Desfontaines, 1789; Elanus melanopterus; Black-shouldered Kite; Common Black-shouldered Kite; Family: Accipitridae › Accipitriformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia Species author: (Desfontaines, 1789)

The black-winged kite species is distributed in Europe, Africa, Asia, Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Philippines, New Guinea and Indonesia.

Description

The black-winged kite is a small bird, the female is slightly larger than the male. The male kite measures, 30 to 35 cm in length and weighs 200 to 270 grams. The female weighs 220 to 340 grams. The wingspan is 75 to 90 cm. The kite has white, grey and blackish velvety plumage and owl like forward-facing eyes with orange red irises. The wings are long and the bird is predominantly greyish white. There is blackish shoulder patches, wing tips and eye stripe.

Habitat

The black-winged kite species primarily inhabit open savanna grasslands with scattered bushes and small trees and semi-deserts areas. They have been also seen at higher altitudes in Sikkim, Nilgiris and Nagaland.

Feeding habits

The black-winged kite feeds on small mammals like rodents, shrews, bats and also small birds. These kites also prey upon grasshoppers, crickets and other large insects.

Breeding

The black-winged kite breeding season is between February to August in the Palearctic region and in Africa and India breeding begins at the end of the wet season. The nest is constructed on the trees with twigs and fine material. The clutch has two to four eggs. Both parents incubate and the male kite has the major role in feeding the incubating female and later the chicks.