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ShrublandPlatform nestMedium · 110 g
ID tip
It weighs 160–427 grams with a wingspan of 84–89 cm. The scissor-tailed kite is a small, slim grey and white kite with a relatively weak bill, a broad head, long pointed wings and a deeply forked tail. The adults are generally pale grey above and white below, with a white forehead and a black patch around the eyes. In flight the dark greyish flight feathers contrast with the inner underwing edges, there is also an obvious black bar across the carpal. Juveniles are darker on the back with rufous edges to the feathers and creamier below.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Scissor-tailed Kite
One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 8 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is January, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Scissor-tailed Kite
The map shades 11 countries with regular records, and 3 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
About the Scissor-tailed Kite
The scissor-tailed kite, also known commonly as the African swallow-tailed kite and the fork-tailed kite, is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is the only species placed in the genus Chelictinia. It is widespread in the northern tropics of Africa.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Sulawesi Serpent EagleSpilornis rufipectusThe Sulawesi serpent eagle is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.
White-browed HawkLeucopternis kuhliThe white-browed hawk is 37 to 40 cm (15 to 16 in) long with a 65 to 76 cm (26 to 30 in) wingspan.
Letter-winged KiteElanus scriptusThe adult letter-winged kite is about 35 cm (14 in) in length, with a wingspan between 84 and 100 cm (33 and 39 in).
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