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Elanus
''Elanus'' is a genus of bird of prey in the elanine kite subfamily. It was introduced by the French zoologist Jules-César Savigny in 1809 with the black-winged kite (''Elanus caeruleus'') as the type species. The name is from the Ancient Greek ' for a "kite". The genus contains four species: The first three species above were considered conspecific as subspecies of ''Elanus caeruleus'', which has been known as the black-shouldered kite. These are white and grey raptors of open country, with black wing markings and a short square tail. They hunt by slowly quartering the habitat for rodents and other small mammals, birds and insects, sometimes hovering like a kestrel The term kestrel (from french: crécerelle, derivative from , i.e. ratchet) is the common name given to several species of predatory birds from the falcon genus ''Falco''. Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behaviour .... Notes References *Ferguson-Lees, Christie, Franklin, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Black-shouldered Kite
The black-shouldered kite (''Elanus axillaris''), also known as the Australian black-shouldered kite, is a small bird of prey found in open habitats throughout Australia. It resembles similar species found in Africa, Eurasia and North America, including the black-winged kite, a species that has in the past also been called "black-shouldered kite". Measuring around in length, with a wingspan of , the adult black-shouldered kite has predominantly grey-white plumage and prominent black markings above its red eyes. It gains its name from the black patches on its wings. The primary call is a clear whistle, uttered in flight and while hovering. It can be confused with the related letter-winged kite in Australia, which is distinguished by the striking black markings under its wings. The species forms monogamous pairs, breeding between August and January. The birds engage in aerial courtship displays which involve high circling flight and ritualised feeding mid-air. Three or four egg ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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 monotypic. Two other species have at times been included with the group, but genetic research has shown them to belong to different subfamilies. Elanine kites have a near-worldwide distribution, with two endemic species found in the Americas, two in Australia, and one in Africa, while the black-winged kite is found over a vast range from Europe and Africa in the west to Southeast Asia in the east. Species Current Elaninae Previously in Elaninae * Genus ''Machaerhamphus'' or ''Macheiramphus'' (subfamily Harpiinae) ** Bat hawk, ''M. alcinus'' – Paleotropics (Africa, south Asia through to New Guinea) * Genus ''Elanoides'' (subfamily Perninae) ** Swallow-tailed kite, ''Elanoides forficatus'' – Americas Description ''Elanus'' species ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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 1818 by the French ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot under the binomial name ''Milvus leucurus'' with the type locality as Paraguay. It is now one of four species in the genus '' Elanus'' which was introduced in 1809 by the French zoologist Jules-César Savigny. The word ''Elanus'' is from Ancient Greek ''elanos'' for a "kite". The specific epithet ''leucurus'' is from the Ancient Greek ''leukouros'' for "white-tailed": ''leukos'' is "white" and ''oura'' is "tail". For some recent decades, it was lumped with the black-winged kite of Europe and Africa as ''Elanus caeruleus'' and was collectively called black-shouldered kite. More recently it was argued that the white-tailed kite differed from the Old World species in size, shape, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elanus Axillaris Distribution
''Elanus'' is a genus of bird of prey in the elanine kite subfamily. It was introduced by the French zoologist Jules-César Savigny in 1809 with the black-winged kite (''Elanus caeruleus'') as the type species. The name is from the Ancient Greek ' for a "kite". The genus contains four species: The first three species above were considered conspecific as subspecies of ''Elanus caeruleus'', which has been known as the black-shouldered kite. These are white and grey raptors of open country, with black wing markings and a short square tail. They hunt by slowly quartering the habitat for rodents and other small mammals, birds and insects, sometimes hovering like a kestrel The term kestrel (from french: crécerelle, derivative from , i.e. ratchet) is the common name given to several species of predatory birds from the falcon genus ''Falco''. Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behaviour .... Notes References *Ferguson-Lees, Christie, Franklin, M ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elanus
''Elanus'' is a genus of bird of prey in the elanine kite subfamily. It was introduced by the French zoologist Jules-César Savigny in 1809 with the black-winged kite (''Elanus caeruleus'') as the type species. The name is from the Ancient Greek ' for a "kite". The genus contains four species: The first three species above were considered conspecific as subspecies of ''Elanus caeruleus'', which has been known as the black-shouldered kite. These are white and grey raptors of open country, with black wing markings and a short square tail. They hunt by slowly quartering the habitat for rodents and other small mammals, birds and insects, sometimes hovering like a kestrel The term kestrel (from french: crécerelle, derivative from , i.e. ratchet) is the common name given to several species of predatory birds from the falcon genus ''Falco''. Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behaviour .... Notes References *Ferguson-Lees, Christie, Franklin, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elanus Scriptus Range Map
''Elanus'' is a genus of bird of prey in the elanine kite subfamily. It was introduced by the French zoologist Jules-César Savigny in 1809 with the black-winged kite (''Elanus caeruleus'') as the type species. The name is from the Ancient Greek ' for a "kite". The genus contains four species: The first three species above were considered conspecific as subspecies of ''Elanus caeruleus'', which has been known as the black-shouldered kite. These are white and grey raptors of open country, with black wing markings and a short square tail. They hunt by slowly quartering the habitat for rodents and other small mammals, birds and insects, sometimes hovering like a kestrel The term kestrel (from french: crécerelle, derivative from , i.e. ratchet) is the common name given to several species of predatory birds from the falcon genus ''Falco''. Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behaviour .... Notes References *Ferguson-Lees, Christie, Franklin, M ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Letter-winged Kite
The letter-winged kite (''Elanus scriptus'') is a small, rare and irruptive bird of prey that is found only in Australia. Measuring around in length with a wingspan of , the adult letter-winged kite has predominantly pale grey and white plumage and prominent black rings around its red eyes. It gains its name from the highly distinctive black underwing pattern of a shallow 'M' or 'W' shape, seen when in flight. This distinguishes it from the otherwise similar black-shouldered kite. This species is also the only nocturnal species within the order Accipitriformes despite few differences found in its visual anatomy to other closely related kites. The species begins breeding in response to rodent outbreaks, with pairs nesting in loose colonies of up to 50 birds each. Three to four eggs are laid and incubated for around thirty days, though the eggs may be abandoned if the food source disappears. Chicks are fledged within five weeks of hatching. Roosting in well-foliaged trees ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bird 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 predators have keen eyesight for detecting prey from a distance or during flight, strong feet with sharp talons for grasping or killing prey, and powerful, curved beaks for tearing off flesh. Although predatory birds primarily hunt live prey, many species (such as fish eagles, vultures and condors) also scavenge and eat carrion. Although the term "bird of prey" could theoretically be taken to include all birds that actively hunt and eat other animals, ornithologists typically use the narrower definition followed in this page, excluding both piscivorous predators such as storks, herons, gulls, skuas, penguins and kingfishers, as well as primarily insectivorous birds such as passerine birds (e.g. shrikes) and birds like nightjars and frogm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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