BLACK-WINGED KITE

Elanus caeruleus

English: Black-winged Kite.
German: Gleitaar.
French: Élanion blanc.

Clasificación/Clasification

Order: Accipitriformes.
Family: Accipitridae.

Longitud/Length

31-35 cm.

Envergadura/Wingspan

71-85 cm.

Aves relacionadas/Similar species

There is no possible confusion with any other species from the Iberian Peninsula.

Sexo/Sexing

Both the male and the female present very similar plumage. Generally, males are slightly smaller than females. However, there is a significant overlap, so this variable is not valid for sexing individuals of this species.

Edad/Ageing

It is possible to recognize 3 different ages:

Juvenile specimen: presents a streaked crown in chestnut tones. The back is gray, and the feathers have a white edge. The tail feathers have a gray spot on the outer barbs. Large secondary coverts and primary coverts with white tips.

2nd year / 3rd year specimen: only some individuals can be identified, which may retain a variable number of outer primaries and some juvenile primary coverts.

Adult specimen: lacks the chestnut streaking on the crown. The back is gray without feathers with a white edge. The tail feathers are completely white, and only the central pair is grayish. Large secondary coverts and primary coverts without white tips.

Muda/Moult

The Black-winged Kite undergoes a complete postnuptial molt, which usually ends in the month of October. On the other hand, the post-juvenile molt is generally complete, although some individuals may retain some outer juvenile generation primaries. The breeding period is very extended, so juvenile plumage individuals can be found throughout the year.

Configuración del plumaje/Plumage configuration

Primaries: 10 per wing.
Secundaries: 16-18 per wing.
Rectrices: 12.

Observaciones/Remarks

Link: http://blascozumeta.com/

Ilustraciones: Sylvática Ilustración.

La obtención de este material ha sido posible gracias al permiso necesario de la Junta de Andalucía.

AUTORIZACIÓN DE LA DIRECCIÓN GENERAL DE MEDIO NATURAL, BIODIVERSIDAD Y ESPACIOS PROTEGIDOS DE LA CONSEJERÍA DE AGRICULTURA, GANADERÍA, PESCA Y DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE DE LA JUNTA DE ANDALUCÍA, PARA LA CESIÓN DE MUESTRAS BIOLÓGICAS DE ESPECIES DE FAUNA (ARTÍCULO 9 DE LA LEY 8/2003, DE 28 DE OCTUBRE, DE LA FLORA Y LA FAUNA SILVESTRES).

Medidas/Measures

Biometría/Biometrics

Adult male specimen:
Beak tip to pupil center: 33m
Tarsus: 27-28mm

classification according to age

Texture of the beards

Textura de una primaria

Textura de una secundaria

Adult female specimen

1.- Right wing primaries. 2.- Details of the inner vane of PP9, P8, P7, and P6. 3.- Details of the inner vane of P5, P4, P3, P2, and P1. 4.- Details of the tip of P10, P9, P8, and P7. 5.- Right wing primaries. 6.- Details of primaries tips. 7.- Details of the outer vane of primaries. 8.- Details of the shaft of primaries. 9.- Secondaries (S1-S8). 10.- Secondaries (S9-S16). 11.- Details of the inner vane of secondaries S1, S2, S3, and S4. 12.- Details of the inner vane of secondaries S9, S10, and S11. 13.- Right wing secondaries and tertials. 14.- Details of right wing tertials. 15.- Details of secondaries tips. 16.- Details of the shaft of secondaries. 17.- Details of the outer vane of secondaries. 18.- Right wing primaries, secondaries, and tertials. 19. Right wing primaries, secondaries, and tertials. 20.- Primaries, secondaries, and tertials. Primary coverts + greater coverts. 21.- Details of primary coverts. 22.- Details of primary coverts. 23.- Details of greater coverts. 24.- Details of greater coverts. 25.- Primaries, secondaries, and tertials. Primary coverts + greater coverts + median coverts. 26.- Details of median coverts. 27.- Primaries, secondaries, tertials. Primary coverts and secondary coverts (G, M, and L). Alulas. 28.- Details of median and lesser coverts. 29.- Primary coverts. 30.- Details of primary coverts. 31.- Greater coverts. 32.- Details of greater coverts. 33.- Alulas. 34.- Rectrices. 35.- Details of the inner vane of rectrices. 36.- Details of central rectrices (R1). 37.- Rectrices. 38.- Details of the outer vane of rectrices. 39.- Details of the shaft of rectrices. 40.- Details of the tip of outer rectrices. 41.- Rectrices + uppertail coverts. 42.- Details of uppertail coverts. 43.- Uppertail coverts. 44.- Rectrices + undertail coverts. 45.- Details of undertail coverts. 46.- Undertail coverts. 47.- Assembly of the right scapula. 48.- Feathers of the right scapula. 49.- Median coverts. 50.- Primary infracoverts. 51.- Greater secondary infracoverts. 52.- Feathers of the right armpit. 53.- Assembly of eyelash feathers. 54.- Assembly of eyelash feathers. 55.- Assembly of eyelash feathers. 56.- Eyelash feathers. 57.- Assembly of back feathers. 58.- Back feathers. 59.- Assembly of the right flank. 60.- Feathers of the right flank. 61.- Assembly and feathers of the crown.

BLACK-WINGED KITE

Medidas/Measures

classification according to age

Texture of the beards

Adult female specimen

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