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Scientific name:
Elanus leucurus |
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Family name:
Accipitridae |
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Are they endangered?
No, they are not endangered worldwide. (IUCN Red list:
Least concern)
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What are their
past/present problems?
These birds are affected by insecticides and pesticides
that are used in their areas. These are sprayed on the
land to get rid of insects and MICE. Their prey eats
poisoned food and they get poisoned, too. Then the
White-tailed Kites eat the poisoned prey. As they eat
more of the prey, the poison builds up in their bodies.
They either die or the females lay thin-shelled eggs
that break before they hatch. This affects the amount
of birds that are born. |
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What do they look
like?
These birds are nearly all white but have black
‘shoulder’ feathers. Sometimes their whole back is
black. Their eyes are red ringed. |
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How big are they?
They are about 1 – 1 ˝ foot long. If their wings were
stretched out, they would be about a 3 ˝ feet wide.
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How many eggs do they
lay?
Females lay from 3 to 6 white eggs once or twice a
year. The eggs hatch in a month. |
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How long do the
fledglings stay in the nest?
Their nests are made of sticks and are in trees. The
young birds (fledglings) leave the nest in 5 weeks. |
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When do they hunt?
They hunt during the day. (diurnal) |
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What do they eat?
They like to eat MICE, squirrels, little birds, frogs and bugs. |
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Where do they live?
They live in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central America,
and parts of South America. |
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What kind of place do
they like to live in?
White-tailed Kites like grasslands, marshes, and shrub lands. |
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Interesting facts:
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The White Tail Kites will build their nests close to
other White-tailed Kites. |
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They are slow divers when they swoop down to get their
prey. |
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Some people call this bird a white hawk. |
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