Kite (bird)

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.

Kites
Black kite
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Accipitriformes
Family:
Accipitridae
Genera
  • Milvinae
    • Harpagus
    • Ictinia
    • Rostrhamus
    • Helicolestes
    • Haliastur
    • Milvus
    • Lophoictinia
    • Hamirostra


  • Elaninae
    • Elanus
    • Chelictinia
    • Machaerhamphus
    • Gampsonyx
    • Elanoides

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
  • 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
    • 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
    • Genus Lophoictinia
      • Square-tailed kite, Lophoictinia isura
    • Genus Hamirostra
      • Black-breasted buzzard, Hamirostra melanosternon

A few of the Perninae are also called kites.

  • Grey-headed kite, Leptodon cayanensis
  • White-collared kite, Leptodon forbesi
  • Hook-billed kite, Chondrohierax uncinatus
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