Prakruti Parichay
AccipitridaeElanus

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

31–35 cmMedium
Beak
—
Feet
—
Crest
No crest

Widespread resident; unrecorded in parts of NW and NE subcontinent. Small size. Grey and white with black 'shoulders'. Flight buoyant, with much hovering. Juvenile has brownish-grey upperparts with pale fringes, with less distinct shoulder patch Hunts by quartering open ground. hovering at intervals with wings held high over back and beaten rather slowly. Grassland interspersed with cultivation or with scattered trees, and scrub desert.

Colour

GreyWhiteBlackBrown
Average size
33 cm
Habitat
Grassland interspersed with cultivation or with scattered trees, and scrub desert.
Behaviour
Widespread resident, unrecorded in parts of NW and NE subcontinent., Hunts by quartering open ground. hovering at intervals with wings held high over back and beaten rather slowly.

About this bird

Widespread resident; unrecorded in parts of NW and NE subcontinent. Small size. Grey and white with black 'shoulders'. Flight buoyant, with much hovering. Juvenile has brownish-grey upperparts with pale fringes, with less distinct shoulder patch Hunts by quartering open ground. hovering at intervals with wings held high over back and beaten rather slowly. Grassland interspersed with cultivation or with scattered trees, and scrub desert.

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Black-winged Kite is bigger than Besra but smaller than Common Kestrel.

This bird

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

31–35 cm