Similar to the familiar
White-tailed Kite (E. leucurus) of the Americas and formerly lumped with it, this Eurasian/African species
is smaller with a much shorter tail and darker mantle. They also differ in hunting style, with the Black-shouldered
Kite usually hunting from a perch, as seen here, while the White-tailed hunts almost exclusively by hovering. The
name English name Black-shouldered Kite is sometimes applied to the recently split Australian Kite (E. axillaris).
Under this arrangement, the Eurasian birds are called Black-winged Kite. Birds in India are usually ascribed to
the race E. c. vociferous, a population recently expanding into Turkey, Israel and other parts of the Middle
East. However some authors consider vociferous to be a synonym of nominate birds in Africa and Europe. Both are
characterized by narrow white forehead and grayish underparts as seen here. Vociferous is said to have
darker underwing secondaries. Canon PowerShot SX50 HS. References:
Clark, W.S. & Banks, R.C. 1992. The Taxonomic Status of the White-tailed Kite. Wilson Bulletin 104:571-579.
Ferguson-Lees, J. & Christie D.A. 2005. Raptors of the World. Princeton University Press.
Kemp, A.C., Kirwan, G.M., Marks, J.S., Motis, A. & Garcia, E.F.J. (2016). Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/52966 on 20 August 2016).
Rasmussen, P.C. & Anderton, J.C. 2012. Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Vols. 1 and 2. Second Edition. Smithsonian Institution. Michigan State University & Lynx Edicions, Washington. D.C., Michigan & Barcelona.