seen from Bulgaria
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seen from United States
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Elanine kite (Elaninae) subfamily
Which is the best bird?
Black-winged kite
Black-shouldered kite
White-tailed kite
Letter-winged kite
Scissor-tailed kite
Pearl kite
This subfamily contains just six species in three genera (Elanus, Chelictinia, and Gampsonyx).
Black-winged Kites in Spain
Photograph: Alamy
(via Week in wildlife – in pictures | Environment | The Guardian)
This series of photos captures a moment between a father White-tailed Kite and its fledgling. The father is in mid-flight, wings gracefully outstretched, offering prey to its young. The fledgling, is intensely focused, its sharp eyes locked on the prize. Its legs are fully extended, talons ready to grab the meal. The determination in the fledgling is palpable, yet just as it’s about to succeed, the father subtly pulls away, keeping the prey just out of reach. You can see the frustration in the fledgling’s posture, its wings slightly tilted, and beak open in what appears to be a vocalization of its efforts. He persisted and was able to finally grab the vole and took his prize in tow to a nearby tree and had its meal.
White-tailed Kite | Laura Asbell Stansfield
[1342/10977] Black-winged Kite - Elanus caeruleus
Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae Subfamily: Elaninae (elanine kites)
Photo credit: Rogério Rodrigues via Macaulay Library
[1258/10977] Black-shouldered Kite - Elanus axillaris
Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae Subfamily: Elaninae (elanine kites)
Photo credit: Elspeth M via Macaulay Library
Pearl Kite (Gampsonyx swainsonii)
...a very small species of elanid kite (Elaninae) which breeds from Panama, Colombia and Venezuela south to Bolivia and northern Argentina, with an isolated population occurring in Nicaragua as well. Its currently expanding its range and was proved to breed in Trinidad 1970, and is now becoming more common along the Pacific slope. Like other small kites, pearl likes feed mainly on lizards, birds, and insects which are usually caught on the ground.
Classification
Animalia-Chordata-Aves-Accipitriformes-Accipitridae-Elaninae-Gamysonyx-G. swainsonii
Image: Dave Curtis
