An elanid kite, sometimes white-tailed kite, is any of several small, long-winged, hovering raptors. All are specialist rodent hunters and most are members of the genusElanus. Some authorities list the group as a formal subfamily, Elaninae.
Elanid kites have a near-worldwide distribution, with three endemic species found in the Americas, two in Australia, one each in Africa and southern Asia, while the Black-winged Kite is found over a vast range from Europe and Africa in the west to South-east Asia in the West.
They are distinguished by their graceful, gliding flight and occur most commonly near water or wetlands.
Kites are classified in three subfamilies: Elaninae, or the white-tailed kites; Perninae, or the fork-tailed kites (and honey buzzards); and Milvinae, or the true kites.
The swallow-tailed kite, Elanoides forficatus, found from the southeastern United States and the West Indies to northern Argentina, is slim, fl above, and white below and has a white head and a long, deeply forked tail.
The true hawks form the family Accipitrinae and most are in the genus Accipiter Species ORDER FALCONIFORMES Family Accipitridae Subfamily Elaninae Subfamily Milvinae Subfamily AccipitrinaeGenus Accipiter Goshawk, A. poliogaster Crested Goshawk, A. poliogaster Crested Goshawk, A. gentilis Sparrowhawk, A. nisus Grey-bellied Goshawk, A. trivirgat...
The common names of birds in various parts of the species in the genus Accipiter Species ORDER FALCONIFORMES Family Accipitridae Subfamily Elaninae Subfamily Milvinae Subfamily AccipitrinaeGenus Accipiter Goshawk, A. Copyright BI53.MEISART.COM.
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