Kite (bird)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Kite () is the common name for certain
birds of prey Birds of prey or predatory birds, also known as raptors, are hypercarnivorous bird species that actively hunt and feed on other vertebrates (mainly mammals, reptiles and other smaller birds). In addition to speed and strength, these predat ...
in the family
Accipitridae The Accipitridae is one of the three families within the order Accipitriformes, and is a family of small to large birds with strongly hooked bills and variable morphology based on diet. They feed on a range of prey items from insects to medium-s ...
, particularly in subfamilies
Milvinae The Milvinae kites are found in the family Accipitridae The Accipitridae is one of the three families within the order Accipitriformes, and is a family of small to large birds with strongly hooked bills and variable morphology based on diet. ...
, [], and
Perninae The raptor subfamily Perninae includes a number of medium-sized broad-winged species. These are birds of warmer climates, although the ''Pernis'' species (European honey buzzard and crested honey buzzard) have a more extensive range. Several of ...
."kite". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2014. Web. 24 Nov. 2014 . The term is derived from
Old English Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, Anglo ...
''cȳta'' (“kite; bittern”), from the
Proto-Indo-European root The root (linguistics), roots of the reconstructed Proto-Indo-European language (PIE) are basic parts of words that carry a lexical (semiotics), lexical meaning, so-called morphemes. PIE roots usually have verbal meaning like "to eat" or "to run ...
*''gū- '', "screech." Some authors use the terms "hovering kite" and "soaring kite" to distinguish between ''Elanus'' and the milvine kites, respectively. The group may also be differentiated by size, referring to milvine kites as "large kites", and elanine kites as "small kites".


Species

* Subfamily
Elaninae An elanine kite is any of several small, lightly-built raptors with long, pointed wings. Some authorities list the group as a formal subfamily, Elaninae. As a subfamily there are six species in three genera with two of these genera being monoty ...
** Genus '' Elanus'' ***
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 it ...
, ''Elanus caeruleus'' *** Black-shouldered kite, ''Elanus axillaris'' ***
White-tailed kite The white-tailed kite (''Elanus leucurus'') is a small raptor found in western North America and parts of South America. It replaces the related Old World black-winged kite in its native range. Taxonomy The white-tailed kite was described in ...
, ''Elanus leucurus'' ***
Letter-winged kite The letter-winged kite (''Elanus scriptus'') is a small, rare and Irruptive growth, irruptive bird of prey that is endemism, found only in Australia. Measuring around in length with a wingspan of , the adult letter-winged kite has predominantl ...
, ''Elanus scriptus'' ** Genus '' Chelictinia'' ***
Scissor-tailed kite The scissor-tailed kite (''Chelictinia riocourii''), also known as African swallow-tailed kite or fork-tailed kite, is a bird of prey in the monotypic genus ''Chelictinia'' in the family Accipitridae. It is widespread in the northern tropics of A ...
, ''Chelictinia riocourii'' ** Genus '' Gampsonyx'' ***
Pearl kite The pearl kite (''Gampsonyx swainsonii'') is a very small raptor found in open savanna habitat adjacent to deciduous woodland. It is the only member of the genus ''Gampsonyx''. The scientific name commemorates the English naturalist William Swai ...
, ''Gampsonyx swainsonii'' * Subfamily Harpiinae ** Genus '' Machaerhamphus'' ***
Bat hawk The bat hawk (''Macheiramphus alcinus'') is a raptor found in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia to New Guinea. It is named for its diet, which consists mainly of bats. It requires open space in which to hunt, but will live anywhere from dense r ...
, ''Machaerhamphus alcinus'' – traditionally Elaninae or Falconinae * Subfamily Elaninae or Perninae ** Genus ''
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 b ...
'' – often classified in Perninae ***
Swallow-tailed kite 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 b ...
, ''Elanoides forficatus'' * Subfamily Milvinae ** Genus ''
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 behaviou ...
'' ***
Whistling kite The whistling kite (''Haliastur sphenurus'') is a medium-sized diurnal raptor found throughout Australia (including coastal islands), New Caledonia and much of New Guinea (excluding the central mountains and the northwest). Also called the whistl ...
, ''Haliastur sphenurus'' ***
Brahminy kite The brahminy kite (''Haliastur indus''), formerly 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 raptors, such as eagles, buzzards, and harriers. ...
, ''Haliastur indus'' ** Genus ''
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. Species This is an Old ...
'' ***
Red kite The red kite (''Milvus milvus'') is a medium-large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards, and harriers. The species currently breeds in the Western Palearctic region o ...
, ''Milvus milvus'' ****
Cape Verde kite The red kite (''Milvus milvus'') is a medium-large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards, and harriers. The species currently breeds in the Western Palearctic region o ...
, ''Milvus (milvus) fasciicauda'' –
extinct Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...
(2000) ***
Black kite The black kite (''Milvus migrans'') is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors. It is thought to be the world's most abundant species of Accipitridae, although some populations have ...
, ''Milvus migrans'' ***
Black-eared kite The black kite (''Milvus migrans'') is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors. It is thought to be the world's most abundant species of Accipitridae, although some populations have ...
, ''Milvus (migrans) lineatus'' ***
Yellow-billed kite The yellow-billed kite (''Milvus aegyptius'') is the Afrotropic counterpart of the black kite (''Milvus migrans''), of which it is most often considered a subspecies. However, DNA studies suggest that the yellow-billed kite differs significantly ...
, ''Milvus (migrans) aegyptius'' * Subfamily Milvinae or Buteoninae, or tribe Harpagini ** Genus ''
Harpagus Harpagus, also known as Harpagos or Hypargus (Ancient Greek Ἅρπαγος; Akkadian: ''Arbaku''), was a Median general from the 6th century BC, credited by Herodotus as having put Cyrus the Great on the throne through his defection during the b ...
'' *** Double-toothed kite, ''Harpagus bidentatus'' *** Rufous-thighed kite, ''Harpagus diodon'' * Subfamily Milvinae or Buteoninae ** Genus ''
Ictinia ''Ictinia'' is a genus of birds in the family Accipitridae. It contains two species that are native to the Americas. Taxonomy and species The genus ''Ictinia'' was introduced in 1816 by the French ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot to acc ...
'' *** Mississippi kite, ''Ictinia mississippiensis'' ***
Plumbeous kite The plumbeous kite (''Ictinia plumbea'') is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae that is resident in much of northern South America. It is migratory in the northern part of its range which extends north to Mexico. It feeds on insects which it ...
, ''Ictinia plumbea'' ** Genus ''
Rostrhamus The snail kite (''Rostrhamus sociabilis'') is a bird of prey within the family Accipitridae, which also includes the eagles, hawks, and Old World vultures. Its relative, the slender-billed kite, is now again placed in ''Helicolestes'', making t ...
'' ***
Snail kite The snail kite (''Rostrhamus sociabilis'') is a bird of prey within the family Accipitridae, which also includes the eagles, hawks, and Old World vultures. Its relative, the slender-billed kite, is now again placed in ''Helicolestes'', making ...
, ''Rostrhamus sociabilis'' ** Genus '' Helicolestes'' ***
Slender-billed kite The slender-billed kite (''Helicolestes hamatus'') is a South American bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is found along a scattered range in forested parts of tropical northern and central South America, and far eastern Panama. The spec ...
, ''Helicolestes hamatus'' – formerly in ''Rostrhamus'' * Subfamily Milvinae or Perninae ** Genus ''
Lophoictinia The square-tailed kite (''Lophoictinia isura'') is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal Bird of prey, raptors such as kite (bird), kites, eagles and harrier (bird), harriers. Taxonomy ...
'' ***
Square-tailed kite The square-tailed kite (''Lophoictinia isura'') is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles and harriers. Taxonomy German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup descr ...
, ''Lophoictinia isura'' ** Genus '' Hamirostra'' *** Black-breasted buzzard, ''Hamirostra melanosternon'' A few of the traditional
Perninae The raptor subfamily Perninae includes a number of medium-sized broad-winged species. These are birds of warmer climates, although the ''Pernis'' species (European honey buzzard and crested honey buzzard) have a more extensive range. Several of ...
'' ''are also called kites. * Genus '' Leptodon'' **
Grey-headed kite The gray-headed kite (''Leptodon cayanensis'') is a raptor found in open woodland and swamp forests. It shares the genus ''Leptodon'' with the extremely rare white-collared kite. It breeds from eastern Mexico and Trinidad south to Peru, Bolivia ...
, ''Leptodon cayanensis'' **
White-collared kite The white-collared kite (''Leptodon forbesi'') is an Endangered species of bird in tribe Pernini and subfamily Perninae of family Accipitridae, the diurnal raptors. It is endemic to northeastern Brazil. Taxonomy and systematics Until the ear ...
, ''Leptodon forbesi'' * Genus ''
Chondrohierax ''Chondrohierax'' is a genus of birds of prey in the family Accipitridae. Its two members, the hook-billed kite (''C. uncinatus'') and the Cuban kite (''C. wilsonii''), are often considered to be conspecific. The hook-billed kite is widespread ...
'' **
Hook-billed kite The hook-billed kite (''Chondrohierax uncinatus''), is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles, and harriers. It occurs in the Americas, including the Rio Grande Valley of ...
, ''Chondrohierax uncinatus'' **
Cuban kite The Cuban kite (''Chondrohierax wilsonii'') is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles and harriers. It is endemic to Cuba. This species is classified as critically endang ...
, ''Chondrohierax wilsonii''


Taxonomy and systematics


19th century

In 1824, Vigors proposed five divisions or ''stirpes'' of the family Falconidae: Aquilina (eagles), Accipitrina (hawks), Falconina (falcons), Buteonina (buzzards) and Milvina (kites, containing two genera ''Elanus'' and ''Milvus''). He characterized the kites as having weaker bill and feebler talons than the buzzards, tail more or less forked, and wings longer than the tail. In ''Elanus'', he grouped the black-winged kite (now several ''Elanus'' spp.), scissor-tailed kite (now ''Chelictinia''), and swallow-tailed kite (now ''Elanoides''). These species all have pointed wings with the second primary the longest. The pattern of scales on the legs (acrotarsi) is reticulated, and the toes are separated. But Vigors noted that only the black-winged kite had rounded undersides on the nails of its talons, a trait found in the osprey but not in any other raptors, and thus suggested a separation of ''Elanus'' into two sections. A year later, he established a separate genus '' Nauclerus'' for the scissor- and swallow-tailed kites. ''Milvus'' contained the familiar red and black kites. The fourth primary feather is the longest, leg scales are scutellated, and the exterior toe is united to the middle toe by a membrane. Vigors placed ''Ictinia'' – "the ''Milan Cresserelle'' of M. Vieillot" and "the ''Mississippi Kite'' of Mr. Wilson" – into Buteonina. Though noting that "the wings are of considerable length, extending far beyond the tail, a character which has induced M. Vieillot and others to place this bird near the ''Kites''", he wrote that the strong affinity in characteristics and manners warranted it to be placed closer to the falcons.


20th century

Swann's 1922 synopsis grouped all the kites together with the "cuckoo-falcons" and honey buzzards into a large Milvinæ subfamily. His order was: ''Elanoides'', ''Chelictinia'', ''Milvus'', ''Lophoictinia'', ''Rostrhamus'', ''Helicolestes'', ''Chondrohierax'', ''Odontriorchis'', ''Gypoictinia'' (=''Hamirostra''), ''Elanus'', ''Gampsonyx'', ''Ictinia'', ''Harpagus'', ''Baza'', ''Aviceda'', ''Henicopernis'', ''Machærhamphus'', ''Pernis''. In contrast, Peters grouped the large kites into subfamily Milvinae and most small kites into Elaninae, with a few small kites joining the honey-buzzards and bazas in Perninae. His arrangement of kite genera was as follows: *Elaninae: ''Elanus'', ''Chelictinia'', ''Machaerhamphus''. *Perninae: ''Elanoïdes'', (''Aviceda'', ''Henicopernis'', ''Pernis'', ''Odontotriorchis''), ''Chondrohierax''. *Milvinae: ''Harpagus'', ''Ictinia'', ''Rostrhamus'', ''Helicolestes'', ''Milvus'', ''Lophoictinia'', ''Hamirostra'', ''Haliastur''. *Polyhieracinae: ''Gampsonyx'' The pearl kite ''Gampsonyx'' had variously been placed with the accipiters, forest-falcons, or elanine kites. It was not until the 1960s that a similar molt schedule established its affinity to ''Elanus''.


21st century

By 2015, genetic research showed that many of the kite genera are related to honey-buzzards, and that the tiny bat hawk (''Machaerhamphus '' or ''Macheirhamphus'') is actually related to the huge harpy eagles. Several of the large kites are related more closely to the ''Buteo'' hawks (buzzards) than to the group of "true" kites and sea-eagles. Boyd''Taxonomy in Flux checklist
Accipitriformes
' "One thing that genetic results have made clear is that the kites are not a natural group. ... Kites also occur in three clades in Perninae and four clades in Buteoninae." "Three groups of kites are part of Perninae. The Neotropical Chondrohierax and Leptodon kites, the Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides, sister to the Pernis honey-buzzards), and the Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia, sister to the Henicopernis honey-buzzards). Note that the honey-buzzards are not a natural group either."
places the "true" milvine kites (''Milvus'' and ''Haliastur'') with the sea-eagles in tribe Milvini within Buteoninae. This results in the following arrangement (genera in parentheses are not generally called kites): *Elaninae: ''Gampsonyx'', ''Chelictinia'', ''Elanus''. *Perninae: ''Chondrohierax'', ''Leptodon'', ''Elanoides'', (''Pernis''), ''Hamirostra'', ''Lophoictinia'', (''Henicopernis''). *Buteoninae **Harpagini: ''Harpagus''. **Milvini: ''Haliastur'', ''Milvus'', (''Haliaeetus'', ''Icthyophaga''). **Buteonini: many genera, including the kites ''Ictinia'', ''Rostrhamus'', and ''Helicolestes''. **:''Ictinia'' is near-basal, after the Old-World genus ''
Butastur ''Butastur'' is a genus of birds of prey in the family Accipitridae. Taxonomy and species The genus ''Butastur'' was introduced in 1843 by the English naturalist Brian Houghton Hodgson with the white-eyed buzzard as the type species. The genus ...
''. ''Rostrhamus'' and ''Helicolestes'' form a clade with the black-collared hawk (''Busarellus'') and the
crane hawk The crane hawk (''Geranospiza caerulescens'') is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is monotypic within the genus ''Geranospiza''. Taxonomy The crane hawk used to be many species that were recently lumped into one. Those ...
(''Geranospiza''). As early as 1882,
Anton Reichenow Anton Reichenow (1 August 1847 in Charlottenburg – 6 July 1941 in Hamburg) was a German ornithologist and herpetologist. Reichenow was the son-in-law of Jean Cabanis, and worked at the Natural History Museum of Berlin from 1874 to 1921. He wa ...
had also placed Section Milvinæ alongside Section Buteoninæ in Subfamily Buteoninæ.


In mythology

Isis Isis (; ''Ēse''; ; Meroitic: ''Wos'' 'a''or ''Wusa''; Phoenician: 𐤀𐤎, romanized: ʾs) was a major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. Isis was first mentioned in the Old Kingd ...
is said in ancient Egyptian mythology to have taken the form of a kite in various situations in order to resurrect the dead. It also figures in several fables by Aesop which underline its character as a predator: The Sick Kite, The Kite and the Doves and a variant of
The Crow and the Snake The Crow or Raven and the Snake or Serpent is one of Aesop's Fables and numbered 128 in the Perry Index. Alternative Greek versions exist and two of these were adopted during the European Renaissance. The fable is not to be confused with the story ...
.


References

{{Reflist


External links


Weekly Radio Segments from ''With the Wild Things'': KitesKite videos
on the Internet Bird Collection Bird common names Birds of prey * * Vultures