RAPTORS of South America
Raptors are carnivorous. They hunt by sight during the day, are long lived, and have low reproductive rates. The catch their prey via strong claws – three pointing forward and one pointing backward.
The raptors that hunt by day are: hawks, eagle, buzzards, harriers, kites, vultures, falcons, caracaras. Owls hunt by night. Raptors are also called birds of prey.
Kites
Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae
The order Accipitriformes contains the diurnal (active during the day) birds of prey: hawks, goshawks, eagles, kites, vultures, ospreys, secretary birds. These birds have sometimes been considered part of the Falconiformes which contains the falcons, but DNA evidence indicates the orders should be separate.
The Accipitridae family contains the hawks, goshawks, eagles, kites, Old World vultures. Subfamilies are often used to group related species, but the subfamiles for much of Accipitridae are in flux. They will be used here if there is agreement for their members.
This page contains the kites. The kites spend great amount of time soaring.
Genus Chondrohierax
Kite, Hook-billed Chondrohierax uncinatus Found: The Americas (starting in Texas)
Photographed by: 1, 2) Cláudio Dias Timm - Brazil 3) Amy McAndrews - Mexico
Genus Elanoides - 1 species
Kite, Swallow-tailed Elanoides forficatus Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1) Joe Nicholson - Florida 2) Lauren Anderson - Avian Reconditioning Center, Florida
3) Amy Evenstad 4) Artur Pedzwilk - Florida
Genus Elanus
Kite, White-tailed Elanus leucurus Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1) Greg Schechter 2) Kevin Cole 3) Alan Vernon
4) Charlie Westerinen along the American River trail near Sacramento, CA
Genus Gampsonyx - 1 species
Kite, Pearl Gampsonyx swainsonii Found: Central and South America
Photographed by: Cláudio Timm in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Genus Ictinia
Kite, Mississippi Ictinia mississippiensis Found: North America and South America
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) Dick Daniels - Carolina Raptor Center
Genus Rostrhamus - 1 species
Kite, Snail Rostrhamus sociabilis Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1, 4, 5) Dario Sanches 2, 3, 6, 7, 8) Cláudio Timm in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
1, 2, 3) Male 5, 6) Female 7, 8) Juvenile
All photos on this site are available for general use. Please credit the photographer. Some images have additional constraints such as no commercial use or no modifications. Click the photo credit link for details. Dick Daniels, webmaster.