Includes Cuban Kite and Grenada Kite
- Chondrohierax uncinatus
Identification
39–51 cm (15¼-20 in)
Light and dark morphs and confusing intermediates. One constant is transluscent, barred primaries.
Variations
Cuban birds have sexual dimorphism, male with gray upperside and barred underside, female similar in brownish colors. Juveniles black above, white below, with white extending to hindneck. Larger bill by far than other forms.
Distribution
North, Central and South America.
In North America breeds only in extreme southern Texas along the Rio Grande between Falcon Dam and the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. Breeds throughout Mexico and south to Panama and in South America from Colombia and Venezuela to western Peru, Bolivia and northern Argentina. Also breeds in the Caribbean in Oriente Province of eastern Cuba, on Grenada and Trinidad.
Resident.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are three subspecies[1]:
- C. u. uncinatus:
- C. u. uncinatus wilsonii: Cuban Kite:
- Eastern Cuba
- C. u. uncinatus mirus: Grenada Kite:
Both of these last two subspecies are considered to be full species by some authors[3], [4] and both are critically endangered.
Two additional subspecies: aquilonis and megarhynchus are generally considered invalid[2].
Habitat
Prefers the lower canopy in tropical rainforest and cloud forest, secondary-growth and riverine woodlands, swamps and savannas.
Behaviour
Perches high in trees and can be difficult to see. Not a shy bird.
Diet
Their main diet consists of snails; Cuban birds are also known to eat slugs.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Bierregaard, R.O., Jr, Kirwan, G.M. & Marks, J.S. (2019). Hook-billed Kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/52955 on 26 July 2019).
- Global Raptor Information Network. 2019. Species account: Hook-billed Kite Chondrohierax uncinatus. Downloaded from http://www.globalraptors.org on 26 Jul. 2019
- Hook-billed Kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus), In Neotropical Birds Online (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. retrieved from Neotropical Birds Online: https://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/Species-Account/nb/species/hobkit
- Johnson, J.A., Thorstrom, R. & Mindell, D.P. (2007) Systematics and conservation of the Hook-billed Kite including the island taxa from Cuba and Grenada. Anim. Conserv. 10(3): 349-359.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) Hook-billed Kite. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 29 April 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/Hook-billed_Kite
External Links
