A white kite is a medium-sized bird of prey that is found across much of Asia and parts of the Middle East. It gets its name from its predominantly white plumage and graceful, soaring flight. The white kite is a member of the family Accipitridae, which includes many other birds of prey such as eagles, hawks, and harriers.
Some key facts about the white kite:
- Scientific name: Elanus caeruleus
- Other common names: Black-winged kite, black-shouldered kite, white-tailed kite
- Length: 14-17 inches
- Wingspan: 35-40 inches
- Weight: 12-17 oz
- Diet: Small mammals, reptiles, birds, insects
- Habitat: Open country, grasslands, agricultural areas
- Range: South Asia, Southeast Asia, parts of the Middle East and northeast Africa
The white kite is easily identified by its pale gray body contrasted with black wings and wingtips. It has a forked tail and reddish legs and cere. Males and females look similar, but juveniles have a brown wash on the body feathers.
Physical Description
The white kite is a medium-sized raptor with a wingspan of around 3 feet. From head to tail, adults measure 14-17 inches. Weight ranges from 12-17 ounces. The body is pale gray above and white below. In flight, the dark primary feathers in the wing tips create a dramatic contrast with the white coverts and body. The head is pale with a dark mask around the eyes. The eyes are yellow, the bill is black, and the feet and legs are orange-red. Juvenile birds have a brown wash over the body feathers.
The white kite has long, pointed wings and a forked tail. The wings enable it to soar effortlessly for long periods. In flight, white kites hold their wings in a slight V-shape. The long tail acts as a rudder, allowing the kite to change direction and stabilize its flight. On the ground, white kites appear slim, lightweight, and somewhat awkward. Their legs are relatively short and weak for a bird of prey.
Habitat and Distribution
The white kite occupies open habitats at elevations up to 5000 feet. Its favored habitats include grasslands, meadows, farmland, scrub, savanna, and wetlands. It avoids dense forest but may occur in more open woodlands.
This species ranges across temperate southern Asia from India and Sri Lanka through southeast China. Its range extends west into Pakistan, Afghanistan and parts of Iran, and southwest into the Middle East and northeast Africa. Populations in Central and South Asia migrate south to spend the winter in sub-Saharan Africa. Birds in Southeast Asia are largely non-migratory.
Within its broad range, the white kite can be locally common in suitable habitat. However, loss of grasslands and wetlands in parts of its range has led to population declines. The species has disappeared from many areas where it was once prevalent.
Diet and Hunting
The white kite is an opportunistic predator that captures a wide variety of live prey. Mammals make up the majority of its diet. It feeds mainly on small rodents including mice, voles, rats, squirrels, and gerbils. It also takes rabbits, bats, moles, and shrews. Birds are the second most important prey and range from small songbirds to larger species like pigeons, quail, larks, and sandgrouse.
Other prey includes reptiles like snakes and lizards, amphibians such as frogs and toads, and insects including grasshoppers, beetles, and termites. The white kite occasionally eats eggs and nestlings stolen from other birds’ nests. It will also feed on carrion if no other food is available.
White kites primarily hunt while soaring and gliding slowly over open ground. The flight style allows them to scan below for prey activity while remaining fairly inconspicuous to potential prey. Once spotted, they drop swiftly onto the prey and dispatch it with their talons. Sometimes they will hover briefly while targeting prey. If the initial attack misses, the kite may chase prey on the ground for some distance.
Reproduction
The breeding season of white kites varies across their range. Northern populations breed from May to August, southern populations breed October to March. Courtship consists of aerial displays over the breeding territory, including high circling, diving, and zigzagging flight patterns.
The nest is a compact platform of twigs and sticks, lined with grass or other soft material. It is placed in a tree, sometimes an old nest of another bird is used. The female lays 2-4 eggs which she incubates for 28-32 days while the male provides food. The chicks hatch over 2-3 days and fledge after about 35 days in the nest. For the first two weeks, the female broods and feeds the young while the male provides food. Later both parents hunt to feed the growing chicks. Juveniles reach independence 2-3 weeks after fledging.
Threats and Conservation
The white kite has a very large range and global population of over 100,000 mature individuals. The IUCN Red List categorizes it as a species of Least Concern. However, the kite has undergone declines in parts of its range due to habitat loss, pesticides, and persecution by humans.
Wetland drainage for agriculture and development has removed key foraging habitat across Asia. Pesticides reduce prey populations and may poison kites feeding on contaminated prey. In some regions, white kites are still hunted and trapped for food, the pet trade, or due to superstition.
Protecting wetlands and limiting chemical use on farmland can benefit white kite populations. Outreach to reduce persecution and regulation of the pet trade are also needed conservation measures. In protected areas with suitable habitat, white kites continue to thrive.
Fun Facts
Here are a few interesting facts about the graceful white kite:
- White kites are highly aerial and may spend up to 98% of the day in flight
- Their slender body and long wings allow them to soar with little flapping for hours
- Like many raptors, they prefer to build their nests in the exposed crowns of tall trees
- Pairs display remarkable aerial agility in courtship, including spiraling dives and interlocking talons
- The oldest known white kite in the wild was over 16 years old
- They are adept small-mammal hunters and may consume over 1000 rodents per year
- Their forked tail differs from many raptors and resembles some tropical kites
- White kites occur as far west as northeastern Egypt near the Suez Canal
- They are valued by farmers in some regions for the rodent control they provide
- Local names for the white kite include shahin-i-balkhi (“Balkh falcon”) in Pakistan
Conclusion
The white kite is a graceful, mediumsized raptor adapted for soaring flight and hunting in open habitats. It is widely distributed across southern Asia, the Middle East, and northeast Africa, but has declined in portions of its range. Conservation of wetlands and reduced pesticide use may benefit remaining populations. The agile white kite remains an impressive hunter, capable of consuming thousands of rodents and other prey annually. Their aerobatics and rodent control make white kites a valued part of ecosystems where they occur.