The black-winged kite, also known as the black-shouldered kite, is a small diurnal bird of prey in the family Accipitridae best known for its habit of hovering over open grasslands in the manner of the much smaller kestrels. This Palearctic and Afrotropical species was sometimes combined with the Australian black-shouldered kite and the white-tailed kite of North and South America which together form a superspecies. This kite is distinctive, with long wings; white, grey and black plumage; and owl-like forward-facing eyes with red irises. The owl-like behaviour is even more pronounced in the letter-winged kite, a nocturnal relative in Australia. Although mainly seen on plains, they are sometimes seen on grassy slopes of hills in the higher elevation regions of Asia. They are not migratory, but show nomadism in response to weather and food availability. They are well adapted to utilize periodic upsurges in rodent populations and can raise multiple broods in a single year unlike most birds of prey. Populations in southern Europe have grown in response to human activities, particularly agriculture and livestock rearing. Source: Wikipedia
Citation:
(Desfontaines, RL 1789)
Reference:
Hist. Acad. R. Sci. Paris Mém. Math. Phys.
(1787) p.503 pl.15
Protonym:
Falco caeruleus
Type locality:
Algiers.
Avibase ID:
97C47F3E1BA4129A
Avibase ID:
avibase-97C47F3E
Short link:
https://avibase.ca/97C47F3E
Taxonomic Serial Number:
TSN: 175284
Geographic range:
Authorities recognizing this taxonomic concept:
African Bird Club Checklist 2004: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) |
African Bird Club Checklist August 2005: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) |
African Bird Club Checklist March 2007: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) |
African Bird Club Checklist January 2008: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) |
African Bird Club Checklist May 2009: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) |
African Bird Club Checklist March 2010: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) |
Avibase taxonomic concepts (current): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 2023 (May 2023): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 01 (August 2013): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 02 (May 2014): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 03 (March 2015): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 04 (Aug 2016): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 05 (Jan 2017): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 06 (Feb 2018): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 07 (Feb 2020): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Avibase taxonomic concepts v. 08 (Feb 2021): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 00: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 01: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 02: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 03: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 04: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 05 (Jun 2012): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 05.1 (Oct 2012): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 06 (Nov 2013): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 06.1 (Feb 2014): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 07 (Jul 2014): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 08 (Oct 2015): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 09 (Dec 2016): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Birdlife checklist version 09.1 (Jun 2017): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v2 (Dec 2017): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v3 (Nov 2018): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v4 (Dec 2019): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v5 (Dec 2020): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v6 (Dec 2021): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v6b (Jul 2022): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v7 (Dec 2022): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
HBW and BirdLife Taxonomic Checklist v8 (Dec 2023): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Commission internationale pour les noms français des oiseaux (1993, révision 2009): Élanion blac ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Commission internationale pour les noms français des oiseaux (1993): Élanion blac ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements 1st edition: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2021: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2022: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2023: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements 3rd edition: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements 4th edition: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements 5th edition (as published): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2000 revisions): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2001 revisions): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2002 revisions): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2003 revisions): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2004 revisions): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements 5th edition (incl. 2005 revisions): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2007 revisions): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2008 revisions): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (incl. 2009 revisions): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (version 6.5 incl. 2010 revisions): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (version 6.6 incl. 2011 revisions): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (version 6.7 incl. 2012 revisions): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (version 6.8 incl. 2013 revisions): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements 6th edition (version 6.9 incl. 2014 revisions): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2015: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2016: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2017: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2018: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Clements, version 2019: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
eBird version 1.50: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
eBird version 1.52: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
eBird version 1.53: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
eBird version 1.54: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
eBird version 1.55: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
eBird version 2015: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
eBird version 2016: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
eBird version 2017: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
eBird version 2018: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
eBird version 2019: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
eBird version 2021: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
eBird version 2022: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
eBird version 2023: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 2nd edition: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 2nd edition (incl. ? suppl): Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (as published): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 1.2): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 2.1): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 3.1): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 4): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 5): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 6): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 7): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 3rd edition (incl. corrigenda 8): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 4th edition (vol. 1-2): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Howard and Moore 4th edition (incl. corrigenda vol.1-2): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Handbook of the Birds of the World (vol 1-16): Common Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (31/01/2015): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (03/07/2017): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Handbook of the Birds of the World and Birdlife (Dec 2017): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Handbook of the Birds of the World and Birdlife (Dec 2018): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.0: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.1: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.5: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.6: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 1.7: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.0: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.1: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.2: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.3: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.4: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.5: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.6: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.7: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.8: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.9: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.10: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 2.11: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.1: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.2: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.3: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.4: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 3.5: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.1: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.2: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.3: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 4.4: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.1: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.2: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.3: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 5.4: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.1: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.2: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.3: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 6.4: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.1: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.2: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 7.3: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 8.1: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 8.2: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 9.1: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 9.2: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 10.1: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 10.2: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.1: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 11.2: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.1: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 12.2: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.1: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 13.2: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
IOC World Bird Names, version 14.1: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Oriental Bird Club: Black-shouldered Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) |
Peters' Check-list of the Birds: Elanus caeruleus [version 1] |
Peters' Check-list of the Birds (original): Elanus caeruleus [version 1] |
Peters' Check-list of the Birds (2nd edition): Elanus caeruleus [version 1] |
Sibley and Monroe (1993): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Sibley and Monroe (1993, including corrections up to 1998): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Sibley and Monroe, Birds of the World Version 2.0: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Working Group Avian Checklists, version 0.01: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Working Group Avian Checklists, version 0.02: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Working Group Avian Checklists, version 0.03: Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Working Group Avian Checklists, version 0.04 (7/07/2024): Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus) [version 1] |
Zoonomen - Zoological Nomenclature Resource: Elanus caeruleus [version 1] |
Zoonomen - Zoological Nomenclature Resource: Elanus caeruleus [version 1] |
Taxonomic status:
Species status: full species (sometimes nominal subspecies)
This taxon is considered a subspecies of
Elanus [caeruleus, axillaris or leucurus]
(sensu lato) by some authors
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Other synonyms
See also the taxonomic synonyms table.
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