Most breeding activities occur between August and January but may occur earlier or later provided that plenty of food is available (typically whenever mouse populations increase). Breeding / Nestingīlack-shouldered Kites form monogamous pair bonds. The prey could be eaten in flight or while perched. They hover with their wings held upright in a V-shape, before dropping down and grabbing prey with their powerful talons (claws). They usually hunt early morning and late afternoon but may take advantage of opportunities at any time of the day. grasshoppers), and, on occasion, even rabbits (particularly when feeding hungry nestlings). They will also take rats, small reptiles, birds, large insects (i.e. An adult consumes about 2 – 3 mice a day. The Black-shouldered Kites mostly feed on mice and other mouse-sized mammals, which make up about 90% of their diet.

They also have all-white underparts (except for the black shoulder patches and dark wing tips) and lack the black underwing ‘w’ or ‘m’ pattern seen in the Letter-winged. The Black-shouldered Kites can be separated from the Letter-winged Kites by the distinctive black “comma shape” above and behind each eye and the white crown (grey in the Letter-winged). Immature birds resemble adults but can be identified by the rusty brown wash on the head and upper chest, the mottled buff-brown back and wings, prominent white wing tips, and brown eyes. In some instances, females have been reported to be up to 15% heavier than males. Males and females look alike, except for females generally being slightly larger in size. Their nostrils and the cere (skin at the base of the bill) are yellow, as are the legs and feet. The black bill is short with a sharp, hooked tip to the upper beak. The plumage is mostly pale grey above, except for a white head, prominent black “shoulders” and wingtips, and below, it is white. Their average weight is 10.26 oz or 291 grams. Description Sizeīlack-shouldered Kites measure between 13.8 – 15 inches (35 – 38 cm) in length (including the tail), and they have a wingspan of 31.5 – 39.4 inches (80 – 100 cm). They are resident in coastal areas with higher rainfalls and their numbers are irregular and varied in the drier parts of their natural range. Their numbers typically increase in response to sudden increases in rodent populations. They generally avoid Australia’s deep desert areas or other arid areas except following rain or movement of flood waters. They generally prefer open grasslands with scattered trees, wetter savannas, agricultural lands, and open woodlands with tall grass. They are only accidental visitors to northern Tasmania and the islands of Bass Strait in the north and Torres Strait in the south of the mainland. They are the most commonly recorded birds of prey in the wheat belt of southwestern Australia. The Black-shouldered Kites occur throughout Australia but are most common in the fertile southeast and southwest corners of the mainland, as well as in southeast Queensland in the north. Not only are these beautiful raptors popular with birders and nature enthusiasts, but these specialist predators also play an important role in keeping rodent populations down. However, in 1992, Clark and Banks provided convincing morphological evidence that these species should be separated, which has been generally accepted. These three species were in the past considered conspecific (the same family). These raptors are closely related to the similar African Black-winged Kites (Elanus caeruleus) and the North American White-tailed Kites (Elanus leucurus), both of which are also sometimes referred to as “Black-shouldered Kites.”

Black and white kite