Plumbeous Kite

The Plumbeous Kite, a bird of prey belonging to the Accipitridae family, is a sight to behold with its slate-grey plumage and striking red eyes. This raptor measures between 34 to 37.5 cm in length, with males typically weighing between 190 to 267 grams and females slightly larger at 232 to 280 grams. Its long, pointed wings are a distinctive feature, and in flight, one can observe a rufous primary patch that sets it apart from its kin.

Identification Tips

Adult Plumbeous Kites are primarily slate-grey, with paler shades gracing their head and underparts. Their short black tail is marked by 2 to 3 white bands on the underside. The legs are a vivid orange, and the eyes are a deep red. While the sexes appear similar, the immature birds can be distinguished by their white-streaked grey upperparts and dark-streaked whitish underparts, and they lack the rufous wing patch characteristic of adults.

Habitat

This kite favors the lowland forests and savannahs, thriving in the lush greenery where it can soar and hunt with ease.

Distribution

The Plumbeous Kite calls the Neotropical realm home, with its breeding range stretching from eastern Mexico to the southern reaches of Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina, and even gracing the island of Trinidad. Migratory patterns are observed in populations from Central America, Trinidad, Venezuela, Colombia, and parts of Argentina and Brazil, which retreat to tropical South America during the northern winter.

Behaviour

A solitary creature by nature, the Plumbeous Kite is occasionally spotted in flocks, particularly during migratory periods.

Song & Calls

The vocalization of this raptor is a melodious whistled si-see-oo, a call that resonates through its natural habitat.

Breeding

High in the trees, sometimes over water in mangrove swamps, the Plumbeous Kite constructs its deep stick nest. Typically, a single egg is laid, though on rare occasions, a pair may be found. These eggs, white or very pale blue, are incubated for 32 to 33 days by both parents. The altricial chicks, covered in white down, are nurtured by both parents until they fledge at approximately one month of age.

Similar Species

The Plumbeous Kite is often compared to the Mississippi Kite, which is strongly migratory and can be differentiated by its white patches on the secondaries and absence of rufous patches on the primaries.

Diet and Feeding

An adept hunter, the Plumbeous Kite captures insects mid-flight or from a perch. Its diet is occasionally supplemented with snails, frogs, lizards, bats, birds, and even snakes.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Plumbeous Kite as Least Concern, indicating a stable population without immediate threats to its survival.