Black-shouldered Kite

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Barron, FNE Qld IMG_4944 20170704

Notes: Small raptor. Yellow legs, feet. Black eye-patch extends behind red eye. Underwing has
black patch near carpal joint. Cf Letter-winged Kite: obvious black carpal bar, whitish legs & feet,
& eye-patch not extending behind. Female slightly larger, darker grey above. Juvenile has rich
brown-orange gorget, hindneck & crown. Hovers often w. slow wing beats, plunging w. wings held
high. Unlike Nankeen Kestrel hunts mostly in early morning & late afternoon in open habitats.

Range from Morcombe^©

Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, S Vic IMG_1405 20190430

Koch Road, Taldra, E SA FN Qld IMG_0774 20230531 - CLICK for another view.

Toowoomba, SE Qld IMG_6907 20180622

Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, S Vic IMG_0831 20180427

Koch Road, Taldra, E SA FN Qld IMG_0823 20230531 - mating. Click for fly-off.

Birdsville Caravan Park, FSW Qld FN Qld IMG_5244 20200915 - black patch near carpal joint; different to obvious black
carpal-bar of Letter-winged Kite.

Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, S Vic IMG_9888 20171109 - young adult: still has brownish-yellow iris.

Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, S Vic IMG_3949 20180203 - juvenile: brownish-orange upper body & crown, white
fringes to wing coverts, yellow-brown iris.

Sturt Highway, W Vic FN Qld IMG_0524 20230530

Barron, FN Qld MVI_4986 20170704

Batemans Bay, SE NSW, FN Qld MVI_5574 20190308 - being harrassed by Willy Wagtail