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Difference between revisions of "Brahminy Kite" - BirdForum Opus

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(Clearer juvenile image)
(more details)
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[[Image:Brahminy Kite 6-9-09.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Subspeies ''girrenera''<br />Photo by {{user|tcollins|tcollins}}<br />Darwin [[Northern Territory]], [[Australia]], September 2009]]
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[[Image:Brahminy Kite, Goa.jpg|thumb|550px|right|''H. i. indus''<br />Photo by {{user|John+Keep|John Keep}}<br />Baga, [[Goa]], [[India]], March 2008]]
 
;[[:Category:Haliastur|Haliastur]] indus
 
;[[:Category:Haliastur|Haliastur]] indus
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
−
44–52 cm (17¼-20½ in)
+
[[Image:Brahminy_Kite.jpg|thumb|350px|right|''H. i. intermedius''<br />Photo by {{user|wengchun|Weng Chun}}<br />[[Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary]], [[Malaysia]], October 2004]]
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*Chestnut
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Length 44–52 cm (17¼-20½ in), wingspan 109–124 cm, weight 320–670 g<br />
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*White head and breast
+
'''Adult'''
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*Black wing tips
+
*Male slightly smaller than female; no sex difference in plumage
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*Yellow feet<br />
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*Chestnut brown body and wings except for black outer primaries
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'''Juveniles''' are browner
+
*Black outer primaries
 +
*White head and breast, finely streaked grey or pure white (see Subspecies, below)
 +
*Tail relatively short; square-ended, to rounded when fanned; not forked
 +
*Pale blue-grey to yellow bill
 +
*Yellowish feet<br />
 +
'''Juvenile'''
 +
*Brown all over, mottled and streaked
 +
*Underwing with dark brown carpal bar and secondaries, pale secondary coverts and inner primaries (forming a broad pale 'H' across the wingspan), and black outer primaries
 +
 
 +
====Similar species====
 +
[[Image:Brahminy Kite 6-9-09.jpg|thumb|350px|right|''H. i. girrenera''<br />Photo by {{user|tcollins|tcollins}}<br />Darwin [[Northern Territory]], [[Australia]], September 2009]]
 +
Adults unmistakeable. In Australia, juvenile easily confused with [[Whistling Kite]] and [[Square-tailed Kite]]; note shorter tail of Brahminy, and exact pattern of dark and pale on underwing. [[Black Kite]] can be distinguished by its shallowly forked tail.
 
==Distribution==   
 
==Distribution==   
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[[Image:Brahminy_Kite.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Subspecies ''intermedius''<br />Photo by {{user|wengchun|Weng Chun}}<br />[[Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary]], [[Malaysia]], October 2004]]
 
 
Southern [[Asia]] to [[Australia]].<br />
 
Southern [[Asia]] to [[Australia]].<br />
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<br />
+
 
 
Breeds in much of [[India]] and [[Sri Lanka]] and in mainly coastal areas from [[Burma]] and southern [[China]] south to [[Malaya]] and from the [[Philippines]], [[Borneo]] and [[Sumatra]] east to [[New Guinea]], the [[Bismarck Archipelago]] and [[Solomon Islands]], and [[Australia]]. In Australia a northern coastal species found from about Shark Bay in [[Western Australia]] to central [[New South Wales]].
 
Breeds in much of [[India]] and [[Sri Lanka]] and in mainly coastal areas from [[Burma]] and southern [[China]] south to [[Malaya]] and from the [[Philippines]], [[Borneo]] and [[Sumatra]] east to [[New Guinea]], the [[Bismarck Archipelago]] and [[Solomon Islands]], and [[Australia]]. In Australia a northern coastal species found from about Shark Bay in [[Western Australia]] to central [[New South Wales]].
  
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Four subspecies are recognised<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:<br />
 
Four subspecies are recognised<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:<br />
 
*''H. i. indus'':
 
*''H. i. indus'':
−
:*Breeds from [[India]] to [[China]] and [[Indochina]]<br />
+
:*Breeds from [[Pakistan]] (Indus Valley) and [[India]] south to [[Sri Lanka]] and east to southeastern [[China]] and [[Indochina]]
 +
::*Head and breast with obvious grey streaks; bill pale blue-grey with pale yellow cere and cutting edge
 
*''H. i. intermedius'':
 
*''H. i. intermedius'':
−
:*In [[Malaysia]], the [[Philippines]] and [[Indonesia]]<br />
+
:*Breeds in [[Malaysia]], the [[Philippines]] and [[Indonesia]]
 +
::*Head and breast with faint grey streaks; bill pale blue-grey with pale yellow cere and cutting edge
 
*''H. i. girrenera'':
 
*''H. i. girrenera'':
−
:*In [[Australia]], [[New Guinea]] and the Bismarck Archipelago<br />
+
:*Breeds in [[Australia]], [[New Guinea]] and the Bismarck Archipelago<br />
 +
::*Head and breast pure white; bill pale blue-grey with pale yellow cere and cutting edge
 
*''H. i. flavirostris'':
 
*''H. i. flavirostris'':
−
:*In the [[Solomon Islands]]
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:*Breeds in the [[Solomon Islands]]
 +
::*Head and breast pure white; bill all pale yellow
 
==Habitat==   
 
==Habitat==   
−
Coastal mudflats, islands, estuaries and mangroves up to 2,300m. In some areas common in coastal towns.
+
Coastal mudflats, islands, estuaries, mangroves, and inland wetlands and farmland up to 2,300m. In some areas common in coastal towns.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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[[Image:Brahminy Kite Juv 00000003 01.jpg|thumb|350px|right|1st year Juvenile taking an early flight<br />Photo by {{user|Mzungu|Mzungu}}<br />King Island, Wellington Point, Brisbane, [[Queensland]], [[Australia]], August 2017]]
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[[Image:Brahminy Kite Juv 00000003 01.jpg|thumb|350px|right|1st year juvenile ''H. i. girrenera''<br />Photo by {{user|Mzungu|Mzungu}}<br />King Island, Wellington Point, Brisbane, [[Queensland]], [[Australia]], August 2017]]
 
====Breeding====
 
====Breeding====
−
It nests in mangrove trees, close to water. The nest is made of twigs and sticks, usually lined with dried mud.  The 2 white eggs have scattered red-brown blotches. Both adults care for the young.
+
It nests in mangroves or other trees close to water. The nest is made of twigs and sticks, usually lined with dried mud.  The 2 white eggs have scattered red-brown blotches. Both adults care for the young.
 
====Diet====
 
====Diet====
 
The diet includes frogs, small snakes, crabs, insects and fish.  It also scavenges.
 
The diet includes frogs, small snakes, crabs, insects and fish.  It also scavenges.
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Click on photo for larger image
 
Click on photo for larger image
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
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Image:brahminy_kite_alok.JPG|Nominate Ssp. ''indus''<br />Photo by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br />Gohana, Dist. Sonipat, Haryana, [[India]], January 2017
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Image:brahminy_kite_alok.JPG|''H. i. indus'' in flight<br />Photo by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br />Gohana, Dist. Sonipat, Haryana, [[India]], January 2017
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Image:Brahminy Kite10.jpg|Sub-adult, Subspecies ''intermedius''<br />Photo by {{user|Bobby6425|Bobby6425}}<br />[[Philippines]]
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Image:Brahminy Kite10.jpg|Sub-adult ''H. i. intermedius''<br />Photo by {{user|Bobby6425|Bobby6425}}<br />[[Philippines]]
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 
==References==
 
==References==

Revision as of 10:41, 28 August 2017

H. i. indus
Photo by John Keep
Baga, Goa, India, March 2008
Haliastur indus

Identification

H. i. intermedius
Photo by Weng Chun
Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary, Malaysia, October 2004

Length 44–52 cm (17¼-20½ in), wingspan 109–124 cm, weight 320–670 g
Adult

  • Male slightly smaller than female; no sex difference in plumage
  • Chestnut brown body and wings except for black outer primaries
  • Black outer primaries
  • White head and breast, finely streaked grey or pure white (see Subspecies, below)
  • Tail relatively short; square-ended, to rounded when fanned; not forked
  • Pale blue-grey to yellow bill
  • Yellowish feet

Juvenile

  • Brown all over, mottled and streaked
  • Underwing with dark brown carpal bar and secondaries, pale secondary coverts and inner primaries (forming a broad pale 'H' across the wingspan), and black outer primaries

Similar species

H. i. girrenera
Photo by tcollins
Darwin Northern Territory, Australia, September 2009

Adults unmistakeable. In Australia, juvenile easily confused with Whistling Kite and Square-tailed Kite; note shorter tail of Brahminy, and exact pattern of dark and pale on underwing. Black Kite can be distinguished by its shallowly forked tail.

Distribution

Southern Asia to Australia.

Breeds in much of India and Sri Lanka and in mainly coastal areas from Burma and southern China south to Malaya and from the Philippines, Borneo and Sumatra east to New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago and Solomon Islands, and Australia. In Australia a northern coastal species found from about Shark Bay in Western Australia to central New South Wales.

Resident.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

Four subspecies are recognised[1]:

  • H. i. indus:
  • Head and breast with obvious grey streaks; bill pale blue-grey with pale yellow cere and cutting edge
  • H. i. intermedius:
  • Head and breast with faint grey streaks; bill pale blue-grey with pale yellow cere and cutting edge
  • H. i. girrenera:
  • Head and breast pure white; bill pale blue-grey with pale yellow cere and cutting edge
  • H. i. flavirostris:
  • Head and breast pure white; bill all pale yellow

Habitat

Coastal mudflats, islands, estuaries, mangroves, and inland wetlands and farmland up to 2,300m. In some areas common in coastal towns.

Behaviour

1st year juvenile H. i. girrenera
Photo by Mzungu
King Island, Wellington Point, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, August 2017

Breeding

It nests in mangroves or other trees close to water. The nest is made of twigs and sticks, usually lined with dried mud. The 2 white eggs have scattered red-brown blotches. Both adults care for the young.

Diet

The diet includes frogs, small snakes, crabs, insects and fish. It also scavenges.

Vocalisation

Call: a mewing keeyew, kweeaa or kyeeer.

Gallery

Click on photo for larger image

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. naturia

Recommended Citation

External Links


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