Plumbeous Kite- Ictinia plumbea

Plumbeous Kite (Ictinia plumbea)

Brazil

The Plumbeous Kite is distributed from Mexico through Central and South America as far as northern Argentina. In the north and south of this range it is migratory during the respective autumns. It is found along forest edges, in gallery forest and in primary forest near rivers.

It is slate grey and paler below than above. Its eye is red and its legs, which look very short when at rest, are orange. The second photo shows important in flight features such as the square tail with two thin white bars and long, pointed wings with rufous on the primaries.

Plumbeous Kite, Isla de Marajó, Pará, Brazil, November 2005 - click for larger image

It is normally very visible as it soars high up, often in groups, while it catches insects in the air.

There are illustrations in HBW, Volume 2, Page 114; and Hilty & Brown, Plates VII and 4.

Plumbeous Kite, Aguas de São Pedro, São Paulo, Brazil, December 2006 - click for larger image

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