White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus)

The White-tailed Kite (WTKI) is about 15” long with a wingspan of  39” and a weight of 12 oz. (340g). The genus name Elanus (EL-an-us) is Latin from the Greek elanos , kite, and elauno , to drive. The species name leucurus (lew-CUE-rus) is Latin from the Greek leukos , white, and oura , tail.

As recently as the 1940sthis hawk was considered rare and endangered in North America, being restrictedto a few places in California and Texas. Since then itsnumbers have greatly increased and spread into many new areas, including Washington where theyare uncommon in the southwestern area of the state from mid-September tomid-May. Two of the best sites are the Raymond Airport(where the photo was taken by Ollie Oliver) and Julia Butler Hansen NWR. A mostrecent sighting was along Foster Road, west of Elma, on a field trip on Aug.26, 2006. They are usually found in open groves, river valleys, marshes andgrasslands. Their habitat preference seems to be trees for perching and nestingand open ground with large populations of rodents.

The WTKI feeds on smallrodents, especially voles, by hovering in open country and diving on the preyfeet-first. 

It was formerly known as a“Black-shouldered Kite”. Its most striking feature is its whiteness. When seen at a distance it appears almost totally white.Perched, the adult has a gray back, white belly, and black shoulders. In flightit is light gray above with black shoulders on inner wing. It is white from below,with black wing tips and black wrist patches on the underside of pointed wings.

For a raptor the WTKI  has an uncommonlygraceful and buoyant flight. They are usually quiet, but may give repeatedshort “keep keep keep” calls, or a longer “kree-eek” given as an alarm call.

Thepair builds a bulky stick platform nest high in a tree lined with grass, weedsand other soft vegetation. The female incubates 3-6 eggs, white with darkmarks. Incubation is 26-32 days and the young fledge after 33-37 days. Theysometimes have two broods.