Kites are smaller raptors with long wings and weak legs which spend a great deal of time soaring. They occur naturally in the warmer regions of this world.
In general they will take live prey but mostly feed on dead animals.
They are birds of prey which along with hawks, eagles, Old World vultures and many others are in the family Accipitridae.
Together with less closely related groups such as New World vultures and Osprey, they make up the diurnal bird of prey order Falconiformes.
Species list
Subfamily Elaninae
- Genus Elanus
- Black-winged Kite, Elanus caeruleusBlack-shouldered Kite, Elanus axillarisWhite-tailed Kite, Elanus leucurusLetter-winged Kite, Elanus scriptus
- Genus Chelictinia
- African Swallow-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 bidentatusRufous-thighed Kite, Harpagus diodon
- Genus Ictinia
- Mississippi Kite, Ictinia mississippiensisPlumbeous Kite, Ictinia plumbea
- Genus Rostrhamus
- Snail Kite, Rostrhamus sociabilis
- Genus Helicolestes
- Slender-billed Kite, Helicolestes hamatus – formerly in Rostrhamus
- Genus Haliastur
- Whistling Kite, Haliastur sphenurusBrahminy Kite, Haliastur indus
- Genus Milvus
- Red Kite, Milvus milvus
- Cape Verde Kite, Milvus (milvus) fasciicauda – extinct (2000)
- Black-eared Kite, Milvus (migrans) lineatusYellow-billed Kite, Milvus (migrans) aegyptius
- Red Kite, Milvus milvus
- 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
