23-11-2016 INLE LAKE, MYANMAR - BLACK SHOULDERED KITE (Genus Elanus)

The Black-winged kite (Elanus caeruleus) is a long-winged raptor best known for its habit of hovering over open grasslands in the manner of the much smaller kestrels. Black-winged kites are well adapted to utilize periodic upsurges in rodent populations and can raise multiple broods in a single year, unlike most birds of prey.

The Black-winged kite is predominantly grey or white with black shoulder patches, wing tips, and eye stripe. Its long falcon-like wings extend beyond the tail when the bird is perched. In flight, the short and square tail is visible and it is not forked as in the typical kites of the genus Milvus. When perched, often on roadside wires, it often adjusts its wings and jerks its tail up and down as if to balance itself. The male and the female look similar. Their large forward-facing eyes placed under a bony shelf that shades them is distinctive; their velvety plumage and zygodactyl feet are characters shared with owls and the genus has been considered as a basal group within the Accipitridae. The inner vanes of the feathers have velvety barbules.

Black-winged kites are found in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical Asia, but they also have a foothold within Europe in Spain and Portugal. Their range expands in southern Europe and possibly in West Asia. Black-winged kites are not migratory, but perform movements in response to weather and food availability. They are said to be winter visitors in some parts of their range such as the Western Ghats. Black-winged kites are primarily birds of open land and semi-deserts. They are mainly seen on plains, and steppes and sometimes occur on grassy slopes of hills in the higher elevation regions of Asia.

Black-winged kites are diurnal birds. They are usually seen singly or in pairs but at night they roost communally with groups of 15 to 35 (larger numbers in Europe) converging at a large leafy tree. They usually hunt flying slowly like harriers, but they will also hover like kestrels. On rare occasions, they can hunt prey in flight. Perches are used for hunting and for feeding but large prey may sometimes be handled on the ground. In southern Africa, they favor roadside verges for foraging. Black-winged kites are extremely silent and the calls recorded include a high-pitched squeal or a soft whistle. They call mainly during the breeding season and at the roost site.

Black-winged kites are monogamous and form pairs. During the breeding season, they become very aggressive and strongly attack intruders. Black-winged kites breed at different times of the year across their range. Although these birds nest throughout the year in India, they appear not to breed in April and May. Males establish territories and defend them from competition. Females move into the territories of males. Courtship is noisy and involves chases. The nest is a loose platform of twigs in which 3 or 4 eggs are laid. The female spends more effort in the construction of the nest than the male. Both parents incubate the eggs for about 25-28 days but when the chicks hatch, the male spends more time hunting. Females initially feed the young, sometimes hunting close to the nest but will also receive food from the male. After fledging the young birds continue to be dependent for food on the male parent for about 80 days. Young birds have reddish-brown feathers on the upperparts and on the breast. The reddish color is derived from porphyrins and is thought to provide the chicks some camouflage. Once breeding is complete females often move on to new territories sometimes deserting before the chicks fledge, leaving males to feed and raise the young. Both males and females show considerable nomadism. Unlike most birds of prey, Black-winged kites can raise multiple broods in a year.