Black-winged Kite

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

Introduction

A very rare vagrant to the UK, first recorded during 2023. This medium-sized raptor has a mostly southerly range, being found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent and extending into southeast Asia. In Europe it has been historically restricted to Iberia but since 1990 has bred in France, and more recently has colonised the Netherlands. The expanding range was foreshadowed by several overshooting migrants and the species has been long anticipated as a vagrant to the UK.

The first British record was seen by just two lucky individuals, in Montgomeryshire in April 2023. It or another individual then toured East Anglia during July 2023.

Key Stats

Population and distribution stats for:
Population Change
Population Change
No data
Population Size
Population Size
No current data
Distribution Change
Distribution_change
No current data
Population Change
Population Change
No data
Population Size
Population Size
No current data
Distribution Change
Distribution_change
No current data

Movement

Information about Black-winged Kite movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

European movements

EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Black-winged Kite, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Black-winged Kite

Classification and Codes

  • Order: Accipitriformes
  • Family: Accipitridae
  • Scientific name: Elanus caeruleus
  • Authority: Desfontaines, 1789
  • BTO 5-letter code: BLSKI
  • Euring code number: 2350

Alternate species names

  • Catalan: Esparver d'espatlles negres
  • Czech: lun?c šedý
  • Danish: Blå Glente
  • Dutch: Grijze Wouw
  • Finnish: liitohaukka
  • French: Élanion blanc
  • German: Gleitaar
  • Hungarian: kuhi
  • Icelandic: Völsungur
  • Italian: Nibbio bianco
  • Lithuanian: Palšasis peslys
  • Norwegian: Svartvingeglente
  • Polish: kaniuk
  • Portuguese: Peneireiro-cinzento
  • Slovak: luniak sivý
  • Spanish: Elanio Común
  • Swedish: svartvingad glada

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.
Find a Species

Search by common or scientific name

Or view the alphabetical list of UK bird species

Scroll down