Home › Aves › Accipitridae › Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)
SPECIES PROFILE
Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)
Elanus
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Indian subcontinent Europe Africa
DIET
Carnivorous
HABITAT
Open grasslands scrub fields
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Accipitriformes
FAMILY
Accipitridae
GENUS
Elanus
📋 Description
SIZE
31-35 cm long 200-300 g
COLORATION
Grey-white with black wing patches red eyes
ADAPTATIONS
Falcon-like hovering for hunting small prey
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Open grasslands scrub fields
DIET
Carnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Indian subcontinent Europe Africa
REPRODUCTION
Lays 3-5 eggs in tree nests incubated 26-28 days
DIET DETAILS
Small mammals birds insects
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Habitat loss pesticide use
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Hovering Hunters: Black-winged Kites hover with 250-gram bodies catching 50 grams of prey daily in Gujarat's fields. Their red eyes are striking.
2
Grassland Predators: These kites cover 3000 sq km in Maharashtra's scrub nesting in low trees. Agricultural intensification threatens their prey.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Bhigwan Bird Sanctuary in Maharashtra
Jamnagar in Gujarat
Sultanpur National Park in Haryana
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Year-round Open fields ensure visibility for spotting kites
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Watch black-winged kites hovering over grasslands
