Kite (bird)

Kites are raptors.  They have long wings and weak legs.  They spend most of the time soaring. Most feed mainly on carrion.  Some take live prey.

They are birds of prey which, along with hawks  and eagles, are from the family Accipitridae.

 Species list 
  Subfamily Elaninae
 Genus Elanus
 Black-winged kite, Elanus caeruleus 
 Black-shouldered kite, Elanus axillaris 
 White-tailed kite, Elanus leucurus
 Letter-winged kite, Elanus scriptus
 Genus Chelictinia
 Scissor-tailed kite, Chelictinia riocourii
 Genus Machaerhamphus
 Bat hawk, Machaerhamphus alcinus
 Genus Gampsonyx
 Pearl kite, Gampsonyx swainsonii
 Genus Elanoides
 Swallow-tailed kite, Elanoides forficatus
 Subfamily Milvinae
 Genus Harpagus
 Double-toothed kite, Harpagus bidentatus
 Rufous-thighed kite, Harpagus diodon
 Genus Ictinia
 Mississippi kite, Ictinia mississippiensis
 Plumbeous kite, Ictinia plumbea
 Genus Rostrhamus
 Snail kite, Rostrhamus sociabilis
 Genus Helicolestes
 Slender-billed kite, Helicolestes hamatus - formerly in Rostrhamus
 Genus Haliastur
 Whistling kite, Haliastur sphenurus
 Brahminy kite, Haliastur indus
 Genus Milvus
 Red kite, Milvus milvus
 Cape Verde kite, Milvus (milvus) fasciicauda - extinct (2000)
 Black kite, Milvus migrans
 Black-eared kite, Milvus (migrans) lineatus
 Yellow-billed Kite, Milvus (migrans) aegyptius
 Genus Lophoictinia
 Square-tailed kite, Lophoictinia isura
 Genus Hamirostra
 Black-breasted buzzard, Hamirostra melanosternon

A few of the Perninae are also called kites.

 Grey-headed kite, Leptodon cayanensis
 White-collared kite, Leptodon forbesi
 Hook-billed kite, Chondrohierax uncinatus

Category:Accipitriformes