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UrbanPlatform nestLarge · 346 g
ID tip
The coloration of the white-tailed kite is gull-like, but its shape and flight are falcon-like, with a rounded tail. While it has white faces and white underparts, it has black wingtips, beaks, and shoulders. Contrastingly, the white-tailed kite has deep red eyes that stand out at night. A mid-sized kite, it measures 35–43 cm (14–17 in) in length, spans 88–102 cm (35–40 in) across the wings, and weighs 250–380 g (8.8–13.4 oz). Both the wings and tail are relatively elongated, and the tarsi measure around 3.6 cm (1.4 in).
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the White-tailed Kite
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is January, the month with the most records.
Where to see the White-tailed Kite
The map shades 22 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 White-tailed Kite
The white-tailed kite is a small raptor found in South America and parts of western North America. It replaces the related Old World black-winged kite in its native range.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Black-winged KiteElanus caeruleusThis long-winged raptor is predominantly grey or white with black shoulder patches, wing tips and eye stripe.
Black-shouldered KiteElanus axillarisThe adult black-shouldered kite is around 35 cm (14 in) in length, with a wingspan of between 80 and 100 cm (31 and 39 in).
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).
Side by side: Black-winged Kite vs White-tailed Kite · Black-shouldered Kite vs White-tailed Kite
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