Last weekend, on our way to the Central Valley Birding Symposium we stopped at a recently opened regional park where this White-tailed Kite was actively foraging. This graceful raptor has an innocent-looking plumage but its menacing red eyes reveal a devil in angel's clothing.
This species was formerly very rare and several studies in the 1930's predicted its certain extinction. Since then, the species has bounced back, and is more common and widespread than ever. This recovery occurred without the benefit of any specific human effort and speaks to the
resiliency of this bird.
This species has, at time, been lumped with the Black-shouldered Kite (E. caeruleus) of Eurasia and Africa. The two have a strong resemblance. The most obvious field difference is the relatively longer tail and the black carpal patch on the underwing of the White-tailed Kite.
Olympus D-550z / Nikon FieldScope 3 / 30XWA (hand-held - no adapter).