The White-tailed Kite, formerly known as the Black-shouldered Kite, is a medium-sized raptor about the size of a Peregrine Falcon or a small male Northern Harrier. It is a graceful, streamlined bird of open spaces, and from a distance it is so white that it could easily be mistaken for a gull. In shape it superficially resembles a falcon but has a longer, non-tapering tail and a light, more buoyant flight style. While hunting it commonly hovers with legs dangling, like an American Kestrel. It also hunts from perches, including power lines.
The White-tailed Kite, which has a nearly world-wide range, has been undergoing a steady range expansion in North America since the 1960s. Once so endangered that it was considered likely to become extinct in the United States, this species has now re-occupied much of its former California and Texas range, and is beginning to nest once again in Florida for the first time in over a century.
SIZE
Females and males are similar in size. The beak of the female averages slightly longer than the male. Total lengths range between 14 and 16 inches (35.6 and 40.6 centimeters). Wingspans range between 14.2 and 15.7 inches (36 and 40 centimeters). Weights range between 10 and 13 ounces ( 283.5 and 368.6 grams).
MORPHS
This species has no morphs and in North American and South America no unusual plumages have been reported.
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION
Adult - Perched
- white head, black-tipped bill, yellow cere, red eye, dark feathers around eye
- body is white
- gray back and upper wing surfaces with black shoulders
- wing tips reach end of tail
- center of tail is gray; outer tail feathers are white; tail is slightly forked
- under surface of tail is white
- yellow legs and feet
Immature - Perched
- juveniles just out of the nest have rusty streaks on the chest
- rest of underparts white
- light brown wash to crown and nape , with thin dark streaks
- medium brown back with pale feather edges
- dark brown-blackish shoulders and generally medium brown upper wing surfaces
- pale tips to flight feathers on upper wing surface
- generally pale gray tail with dusky subterminal band
- yellow legs and feet
SIMILAR SPECIES
The species most similar is the related Mississippi Kite which shares the same general size and shape as the White-tailed Kite, but in both adult and juvenile plumages has a dark gray or black tail (black and white banded in the juvenile). Adult Mississippi Kites also have gray, not white, underparts and show pale secondaries that contrast with medium gray shoulders and very dark wing tips.
The Peregrine Falcon shares a superficial similarity in size and shape but is always a generally dark bird, never whitish, and has barred underwings and a broader, shorter tail. The Peregrine lacks the black wrist marks of the underwings. The Gyrfalcon is also similarly shaped with pointed wings, but is streaked below and lacks the black wrist marks. The Prairie Falcon has black wing pits, not black wrist patches.
The Northern Harrier lacks pointed wings and has a banded tail (at least one band) and a conspicuous white upper tail coverts that contrasts with the darker color of the tail and back.
Several gulls are similar in size, shape, and color. None, however, shows the distinctive small black wrist patch of the underwing, or the black shoulders on the upperwing.
OTHER NAMES
The White-tailed Kite has recently reverted (1993) to the common and scientific names it was known by for most of the twentieth century. However, during the 1980s this bird was grouped with several other species of superficially similar kites of the Old World and was then called the Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caerulus). In some parts of its range the White-tailed Kite is called the "White Hawk."
ETYMOLOGY
The scientific name Elanus leucurus translates into "kite" (Elanus - from Latin) that is "white-tailed" (leucurus - from Greek).
MYTHOLOGY
No North American mythology is available for the White-tailed Kite.
VOICE
The White-tailed Kite has a fairly limited vocal repertoire. A common call is a whistle like a distant Osprey. This becomes high pitched when the bird is alarmed. This call may also be the low, rounded whistle or chirp given to announce the presence of a mate. During copulation and food exchanges between mates an "eee-grack" or "whee-grack" call is given. The first syllable is high pitched; the second is low and raspy. A similar "ee-gritch" has been described, uttered by a female as she plucked prey. In flight display a bird will call a chirping or chittering call. The male calls a "chuck' when feeding the female. Nestlings hiss, and fledged young utter begging screams at the appearance of their parents.
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