Elanus caeruleus
Silhouette: Catherine Yasuda · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~70% in a week >90%
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 in response to weather and food availability. They are well adapted to utilize periodic upsurges in rodent populations and can raise multiple broods in a single year unlike most birds of prey. Populations in southern Europe have grown in response to human activities, particularly agriculture and livestock rearing. It is now present in Southwest France. Wikipedia →
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Safari World | 🇹🇭 Thailand | |
| 2 | Bandung Zoo | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 3 | Dullstroom Bird Of Prey & Rehabilitation Centre | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 4 | Kuala Lumpur Bird Park | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | |
| 5 | Zoo del Pirineu | 🇪🇸 Spain |
Likely
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Black-winged Kite sighting in Vasai-Virar on a given day, based on 572 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 37th most-seen of the 217 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 70%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February
In that month about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Black-winged Kite in Vasai-Virar on a given day, against about 10% in July to September, the lowest months. That is one of Vasai-Virar's driest months, with almost no rain against 840 mm in July.
Between 8 and 11 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black-winged Kite sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 99 cities where we can rate Black-winged Kite sightings, Vasai-Virar ranks 3rd at about 40%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Quanzhou (China, about 40%) and Luxor (Egypt, about 40%).
Same family: Accipitridae
The closest relatives of the Black-winged Kite that you can see in Vasai-Virar (family Accipitridae, Hawks, Eagles, and Kites) are Black Kite (about 70%), Western Marsh-Harrier (about 50%) and Indian Spotted Eagle (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Black-winged Kite is recorded against all the birds logged in Vasai-Virar (572 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
