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Kite (bird)
Kite is the common name for certain birds of prey in the family Accipitridae, particularly in the subfamilies Elaninae and Perninae and certain genera within Buteoninae."kite". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2014. Web. 24 Nov. 2014 . The term is derived from Old English , onomatopoeic from the call notes of the buzzard (''Buteo buteo'') and red kite (''Milvus milvus''). The name, having no cognate names in other European languages, is thought to have arisen in England; it apparently originally denoted the buzzard, as the red kite was then known by the widespread Germanic name 'glede' or 'glead', and was only later transferred to the red kite as "fork-tailed kite" by Christopher Merret in his 1667 ''Pinax Rerum Naturalium Britannicarum''. By the time of Thomas Pennant's 1768 ''British Zoology'', the name had become fixed on the red kite, other birds named 'kite' around the world being named from their then-percei ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Red Kite
The red kite (''Milvus milvus'') is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other Diurnality, diurnal Bird of prey, raptors such as eagles, buzzards, and harrier (bird), harriers. The species currently breeds only in Europe, though it formerly also bred in west Asia and northwest Africa. Historically, it was only resident in the milder parts of its range in western Europe and northwestern Africa, whereas all or most red kites in northern mainland Europe wintered to the south and west, some also reaching western Asia, but an increasing number of northern birds now remain in that region year-round. Vagrancy (biology), Vagrants have reached north to Finland and south to Israel, Libya and Gambia. Taxonomy The red kite was described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae, 10th edition of his ''Systema Naturae'' under the Binomial nomenclature, binomial name ''Falco milvus''. The word ''milvus'' was the Latin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Black-winged Kite
The black-winged kite (''Elanus caeruleus''), also known as the black-shouldered kite (not to be confused with the closely-related Australian species of the same name), 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 (''Elanus axillaris'') and the white-tailed kite (''Elanus leucurus'') 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 (''Elanus scriptus''), 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 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Milvus
''Milvus'' is a genus of medium-sized birds of prey. The genus was erected by the French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède in 1799 with the red kite as the type species. The name is the Latin word for the red kite. The genus ''Milvus'' has in the past been placed in the subfamily Milvinae but molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that such a grouping is polyphyletic for Buteoninae. It is now placed in the subfamily Buteoninae. Species The genus contains three species. Allozyme data indicates that the genetic diversity in both black and red kites is rather low.Schreiber, Arnd; Stubbe, Michael & Stubbe, Annegret (2000): Red kite (''Milvus milvus'') and black kite (''M. migrans''): minute genetic interspecies distance of two raptors breeding in a mixed community (Falconiformes: Accipitridae). '' Biol. J. Linn. Soc.'' 69'(3): 351–365. (HTML abstract) Successful hybridization between ''Milvus'' kites is fairly commonplace, making mtDNA analyses unreliable t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Brahminy Kite
The brahminy kite (''Haliastur indus''), also known as the red-backed sea-eagle in Australia, is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal Bird of prey, raptors, such as eagles, buzzards, and harrier (bird), harriers, all found in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Australia. The brahminy kite is found mainly on the coast and in inland wetlands, where it feeds on dead fish and other prey. Adults have a reddish-brown body plumage contrasting with their white head and breast which make them easy to distinguish from other birds of prey. Taxonomy In 1760, French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson described and illustrated the Brahminy kite in the first volume of his ''Oiseaux'' based on a specimen collected in Pondicherry, India. He used the French name ''L'aigle de Pondichery''. The brahminy kite was included by the French polymath Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon in his ''Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux''. It was a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Whistling Kite
The whistling kite (''Haliastur sphenurus'') is a medium-sized Diurnal animal, diurnal Bird of prey, raptor found throughout Australia (including coastal islands), New Caledonia and much of New Guinea (excluding the central mountains and the northwest). Also called the whistling eagle or whistling hawk, it is named for its loud whistling call, which it often gives in bird flight, flight. Some authorities put this species in the genus ''Milvus'', despite marked differences in behaviour, bird song, voice and plumage between this species and other members of that genus. Description The whistling kite ranges in size from , with a wingspan between . Weights range from an average of for males and for females. As with most raptors, females are larger and heavier than males; though there is considerable overlap between the sexes, females can be up to 21% larger and 42% heavier. Southern birds are also larger than those found in the tropics. Male and female plumages are th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Haliastur
''Haliastur'' is a genus of medium-sized diurnal birds of prey. It consists of two species of kites which form part of the subfamily Milvinae; some authorities place these species in the genus '' Milvus'', despite clear differences in behaviour, voice and plumage. The genus was erected by the English naturalist Prideaux John Selby in 1840 with brahminy kite (''Haliastur indus'') as the type species. The name of the genus combines the Ancient Greek ''hali-'' "sea-" and the Latin ''astur'' meaning "hawk". Description The two Haliastur species are medium-sized birds of prey with a strong, slightly squat rump, small head, relatively short and wide wings, a medium-long, rounded tail and short but strong legs and toes. The Whistling kite reaches a body length of 50 to 60 centimeters and has a wingspan of 120 to 145 centimeters. Males weigh an average of 700 grams, the females are significantly heavier at 850 grams. The Brahminy kite is a little smaller. Its body length is 44–52 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Swallow-tailed Kite
The swallow-tailed kite (''Elanoides forficatus'') is a pernine raptor which breeds from the southeastern United States to eastern Peru Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ... and northern Argentina. It is the only species in the genus ''Elanoides''. Most North and Central American breeders bird migration, winter in South America where the species is resident bird, resident year round. Taxonomy and systematics The swallow-tailed kite was first described as the "swallow-tail hawk" and "''accipiter cauda furcata''" (forked-tail hawk) by the English naturalist Mark Catesby in 1731. It was given the Binomial nomenclature, binomial scientific name ''Falco forficatus'' by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae, 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae'', publishe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Elanoides
The swallow-tailed kite (''Elanoides forficatus'') is a pernine raptor which breeds from the southeastern United States to eastern Peru and northern Argentina. It is the only species in the genus ''Elanoides''. Most North and Central American breeders winter in South America where the species is resident year round. Taxonomy and systematics The swallow-tailed kite was first described as the "swallow-tail hawk" and "''accipiter cauda furcata''" (forked-tail hawk) by the English naturalist Mark Catesby in 1731. It was given the binomial scientific name ''Falco forficatus'' by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae'', published in 1758; he changed this to ''Falco furcatus'' in the 12th edition of 1766. The latter spelling was used widely during the 18th and 19th centuries, but the original spelling has precedence. The genus ''Elanoides'' was introduced by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot in 1818. The name is from Ancient Greek for "kite" and fo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Pearl Kite
The pearl kite (''Gampsonyx swainsonii'') is a very small raptor found in open savanna habitat adjacent to deciduous woodland in Central and South America. It is the only member of the genus ''Gampsonyx''. The scientific name commemorates the English naturalist William Swainson. Taxonomy and systematics The type specimen was collected from Brazil by English naturalist William Swainson, and described by Nicholas Aylward Vigors in 1825. Vigors noted the similarity to both hawks and falcons, but placed ''Gampsonyx'' within the "Accipitrine subfamily" because it lacks the notched beak of the falcons. He also noted its striking resemblance to the coloration of the falconets. Later, the pearl kite was classified with the falcons. For example, Peters placed it with the forest falcons in subfamily Polyhieracinae. In the mid-20th century it was found to be related to ''Elanus'' based on morphology and its molt schedule. Distribution and habitat This tiny kite breeds from Panama, Colomb ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Scissor-tailed Kite
The scissor-tailed kite (''Chelictinia riocourii)'', 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. Taxonomy and systematics The scissor-tailed kite was illustrated in 1821 for a work by the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Temminck. The 5 volumes were originally issued in 102 ''livraison'' (parts), 1820-1839. For the dates see: The hand-coloured plate formed part of ''livraison'' 15 of Temminck's work. The binomial name ''Falco riocourii'' was printed on the wrapper to the ''livraison'', but not included on the plate itself. The text that accompanied the plate in the final bound volume was not published until December 1823, after the species had been described and illustrated in 1822 by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot. The scissor-tailed kite was grouped with the ''Elanus'' kites or ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Chelictinia
The scissor-tailed kite (''Chelictinia riocourii)'', 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. Taxonomy and systematics The scissor-tailed kite was illustrated in 1821 for a work by the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Temminck. The 5 volumes were originally issued in 102 ''livraison'' (parts), 1820-1839. For the dates see: The hand-coloured plate formed part of ''livraison'' 15 of Temminck's work. The binomial name ''Falco riocourii'' was printed on the wrapper to the ''livraison'', but not included on the plate itself. The text that accompanied the plate in the final bound volume was not published until December 1823, after the species had been described and illustrated in 1822 by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot. The scissor-tailed kite was grouped with the '' Elanus'' kites ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
