Black-shouldered Kite
Elanus caeruleus
Black-shouldered Kite preys on small mammals and birds in African open grasslands.
| Scientific name | Elanus caeruleus |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae |
| Size | Male: approximately 300-400 grams; female: slightly heavier, about 350-450 grams |
How to identify
Distinct black patches on the shoulders; plumage mainly gray-white; wing tips black; tail feathers white with black transverse bands; red bare eye-ring around the eyes
Habitat
Open grasslands, sparse wooded savannas, edges of farmland, and shrub areas
Diet
Carnivorous, primarily preys on small mammals (such as field mice), small birds, and large insects
When it is active
Diurnal, active during the day, especially in the early morning and late afternoon
Where it lives
Widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya and Masai Mara; also present in parts of Asia
How to spot it
Search in open grasslands or farmland edges, watch for hovering hunting behavior, use binoculars to observe the black shoulder patches
Photography tips
Use soft morning or evening light for photography, capture hovering hunting actions, use a telephoto lens to minimize disturbance
Threats
Habitat destruction and pesticide use leading to prey decline
Similar species
White-shouldered Kite (Elanus leucurus), distinguished by white shoulders and distribution in the Americas
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