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Double-toothed Kite
jmorlan

Double-toothed Kite (Harpagus bidentatus fasciatus)

This is a rather rare species and we only saw it once on our visit to Belize. We considered ourselves very lucky to watch it catch and devour what appeared to be a Scaly-breasted Hummingbird. This is an unusual prey item for this species. In "The Birds of Panama," Wetmore wrote that they eat small lizards and insects which they catch in the forest canopy. He noted that he had never seen them go after birds. After silencing the hummingbird, the kite posed for a while in fading light allowing this photo. This is an adult. Juveniles generally lack rusty coloration on the underparts. This photo shows the dark line down the middle of the throat which helps distinguish it from the similar Accipiters. Two subspecies are recognized. The nominate race is found in eastern tropical South America and differs from our bird in having the underparts more solidly rusty.
Location
Chan Chich Lodge, Orange Walk District, Belize
Date taken
2 February 2011
Scientific name
Harpagus bidentatus fasciatus
Equipment used
Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LZ5 | Nikon FieldScope III | 30XWA | hand-held (no adapter)
Staff member
Opus Editor
Supporter
It must have been really hungry to eat that hummingbird.

A great closeup of this Kite!
 
Staff member
Opus Editor
Supporter
LOL Joe... I saw all the work you'd done in Opus for this guy and have finally got to your upload!!! I've got very behind the last couple of days and am still looking at Monday's pictures, and it will be Wednesday soon!

A super picture this lad - very well done.

May I wish you and your family a very happy 2019.
 

Media information

Category
Central & South America & Mexico
Added by
jmorlan
Date added
View count
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Comment count
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