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.  Subfamiles are used to group the kites because there seems to be consistent agreement for their members.


Genus Chelictinia  - 1 species

Kite, African Swallow-tailed Chelictinia riocourii  Found: Africa
Photographed by Dick Daniels - Tanzania



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, Black-shouldered   Found: Africa, Australia
Photographed by: 1, 3) Dick Daniels - Eagle Encounters, South Africa   2) Dick - Eagle Encounters 
    4) David Cook - South Australia


Kite, Black-winged Elanus caeruleus  Found: Africa, Asia, Europe
Photographed by: 1) T. S. Ganesh - India  2) J. M. Garg - Hyderabad, India


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 Haliastur

Kite, Brahminy Haliastur indus   Found: Asia, Australia
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - Featherdale Wildlife Park, Australia   2) Dick - Featherdale Wildlife Park


Kite, Whistling Haliastur sphenurus   Found: Australia
Photographed by:  1) Athena Ferreira  2) Dick Daniels - Australia 3) David Cook



Genus Hamirostra - 1 species

Kite, Black-breasted also Black-breasted Buzzard also Black-breasted Vulture Hamirostra melanosternon  Endemic to Australia
Photographed by:   1, 2) Benjamint444b - Annapurna region of Nepal 



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 Milvus

Kite, Black Milvus migrans   Found: Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia
Photographed by:  1, 2) Dick Daniels - Nepal  3) Dick - Tanzania   4, 5) Dick - Tanzania



Kite, Red Milvus milvus   Found: Europe and northwest Africa
Photographed by: 1) Hans Hillewaert - Belgium  2) Pavrabec  3) Thomas Kraft - Germany


Kite, Yellow-billed   Milvus aegyptius    Found: Africa Photographed by: :  1) Schuyler Shepherd  2) Dick Daniels - Center for Birds of Prey, Charleston, South Carolina 
    3, 5, 6) Arno Meinties  4) D. Gordon Robertson - Ngorongoro Crater Park, Tanzania
4) Juvenile




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