Monday, June 10, 2013

Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)



An uncommon breeding raptor in open areas, grasslands paddy fields and Patana lands in dry lowlands and hills.  Occasional visitor to the wet lowlands. It encounters mostly as solitary birds or in pairs. It has a habit of hovering frequently when hunting on grasshoppers, lizards, rats and young birds in open country.  The breeding season is from December to March and sometime again from July to October. The nest – untidy mass of sticks – is placed at top of a tree in fairly open area.