Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Hook-billed Kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus), male
Hook-billed Kite, Male

Hook-billed Kite

Chondrohierax uncinatus

The Hook-billed Kite, known scientifically as Chondrohierax uncinatus, is a mid-sized, slender raptor with a distinctive downcurved hook at the tip of its beak. Exhibiting a striking variation in color, males may appear blackish or gray from below, while females can show a brown or brick-red hue. This species is characterized by its striped belly and banded tail, with a notable individual variation in color and bill size that can make identification challenging. Weighing between 215 to 397 grams (7.6 to 14.0 ounces) and measuring 38–51 centimeters (15–20 inches) in length, it is a bird of considerable elegance.

Identification Tips

When attempting to identify the Hook-billed Kite, look for the unique hook at the beak's tip, visible on perched and low-flying birds. The underparts are invariably striped, and the tail is banded. The coloration varies significantly between individuals, with males and females displaying different shades.

Habitat

This raptor favors environments where tree snails are abundant, as they are a vital component of its diet.

Distribution

The Hook-billed Kite graces the skies of the Americas, with its range extending from the Rio Grande Valley of Texas in the United States, through Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and into tropical South America.

Behaviour

The Hook-billed Kite is often described as sluggish and retiring, preferring to remain perched within the leafy canopy when not in flight. It is known to hold tree snails with its talon and skillfully use its beak to pry open the shells.

Breeding

Both sexes contribute to the construction of a flimsy platform of sticks that serves as their nest. They lay two to three buff-white eggs marked with red-brown, which are incubated by both parents. The semialtricial young remain in the nest for 35–45 days and receive care and feeding from both parents.

Similar Species

The critically endangered Cuban kite (C. wilsonii) is sometimes considered a subspecies of the Hook-billed Kite, suggesting a close resemblance between the two.

Diet and Feeding

The Hook-billed Kite's diet is predominantly composed of tree snails, but it also includes terrestrial and aquatic snails, frogs, salamanders, lizards, small mammals, crabs, spiders, caterpillars, and insects. There are unconfirmed reports of it hunting other birds.

Conservation status

The Hook-billed Kite is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not at immediate risk of widespread decline.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Hook-billed Kites on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Kites, Hawks, Eagles

Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Trevarthen1
Birda fan
I really enjoy using Birda, all sightings are recorded and photos can be added. There are monthly challenges which help to get you out to record your sightings. The Birda community are great and are happy to help with unidentified bird sightings. Suitable for all ages and experience!
Alice J
Awesome Birding Community
I absolutely love the community aspect of this app. The app is so user friendly and has fun interactive challenges to get you out birding. I’ve tried others but since I’ve started using Birda I’ve not gone back!
Nick S
Work together with community
Been loving using this app to log my bird sightings and work together with community members to identify different birds. I've already learned a lot since I started about a month ago!
SuperOliviaGirl
Really great app
It’s easy to use and it’s fun to log the birds you notice on a walk or just in your garden. There’s a option to record the birds you see in a session which is really nice. Good excuse to stop for a while and just watch birds. I am also enjoying the information part where you can find out fact about birds from all over the world.
Mike T
Sense of Community
A great app, which is continually being improved. What really comes through is the passion of those behind the app. The sense of community is brilliant, so much help and support provided to new and/or in experienced birders.
Jane N
A great app
Enjoying it immensely and finding it useful too. Recording the different birds and counting them is showing me how the present climate is affecting them all. I've trebled the numbers by planting native hedging. A great app.
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
Tralisalandhoop
Fantastic app - Love it!
Love this app and have used it almost daily. Lots of species information and easy to use. Love seeing birds spotted by other users in the UK and worldwide.
Madstherangers
A mordern game changer
Birda is an awesome app, its updated the world of birding to the modern day with a fun and easy to use app. It’s engaging and allows positive interaction with fellow bird lovers!
Ellesse_W
Learning Birding with Birda
I’m relatively new to birding as a hobby, and Birda is a great way to keep track off all the species I see. I’m still working on my ID skills, but the app is great for figuring out potential species, and the online community is so friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend Birda to both early and serious birders! 🐦
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.