- Ictinia plumbea
Identification
33-38cm long and weighs 190-280g. This bird has long wings which are pointed. The adults are slate grey and have a pale head and underparts. There are 2-3 white bands on the black tail. It has red eyes and orange legs. The sexes are similar; juveniles have white-streaked grey upperparts and dark-streaked whitish underparts. They lack the rufous wing patch. The call is a whistled si-see-oo.
Distribution
Eastern Mexico through Central America to Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. It also breeds on Trinidad.
Taxonomy
Habitat
Lowland forest and savannah.
Behaviour
It builds a stick nest in a tree and lays 1-2 blue-white eggs. The diet includes large flying insects, but smaller insects, such as flying termites, are also taken. Most insects are caught in the feet. It also eats snails and warm- and cold-blooded small vertebrates.
Nests are built in trees. They are made of twigs and 1-2 white eggs are laid. The chicks are fed by both parents.
