The White-tailed Kite is a small raptor, measuring 35–43 cm (14–17 inches) in length. Its wing span is about 88–102 cm (35–40 inches) across the wings. And it weighs 250–380 g (8.8–13.4 ounces).
The White-tailed Kite is known for its capacity to hover (or 'kite') in place by facing into the wind and fluttering its wings. Holding stationary in mid-air allows them to keep their head completely still while scanning the ground for movement of their prey, small mammals on the ground below. When a White-tailed Kite spots prey, it dives down and snatches the animal with its talons. Then the White-tailed Kite flies to the branch of a tree to eat its prey.
While many hawks have a varied diet, White-tailed Kites are specialists. Their diet consists almost entirely of small mammals, specifically California voles. Because they are so specialized, their population numbers often fluctuate based on the "boom and bust" cycles of the local rodent population.
Most raptors are solitary and territorial, especially at night. However, White-tailed Kites are surprisingly social when they aren't nesting. During the winter, they gather in communal roosts, where dozens (and occasionally hundreds) of birds sleep in the same group of trees for safety and warmth.
Photo by Susan Lambert
Photo by John Drum
Photo by John Drum
Photo by John Drum
