White Tailed Kite

We visited the Humboldt National Wildlife Preserve today on our way from Arcata to Mendocino. We were so fortunate to see the white-tailed kites, which are fairly rare! There were two in a far off tree and we were able to get close enough for a shot! They are striking, and beautiful in flight!

The White-tailed Kite was formerly known as the Black-shouldered Kite, until the species was split, with the North American birds taking the new moniker. The White-tailed Kite is a distinctive bird, especially when hovering over open fields. The kite's upperparts are mostly gray, with bold black shoulders. Its tail is white above and below, with a small stripe of light gray down the center of the upper side of the tail. From below, the kite's body appears to be white, with black patches at the wrists and gray-black primaries. Its head is mostly white with red eyes. Juveniles are similar, but have a buffy wash over much of their bodies. The kite's wings are long and pointed, often held in a dihedral during soaring.

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