White-Tailed Kite
Elanus leucurus
The White-Tailed Kite is resident (non migratory) wherever it lives. We usually find it in open grasslands where it is often seen hovering in a fixed aerial position. This is where it gets its ‘kite’ name. In the USA, they live throughout much of California, western Oregon, parts of southern Texas, and southern Florida. These birds are declining in numbers. Observers say we’ve lost 36% between 1970 and 2014. Urban and suburban development have had a negative impact on the success of these birds.
In Poway, where I’m from in San Diego County, there are grasslands south of town that used to host families of these snowy raptors. Alas, the blades of progress seem to have driven these amazing birds from these once productive acres.
Today’s science recognises two subspecies of White-Tailed Kite:
- E. l. majusculus lives in North America.
- E. l. leucurus lives in South America.
White-tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: With prey in talons at the Grasslands, South Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:12:22 16:24 |
|
Location:
Poway Grove (historical) |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X9798-WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
White-Tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: (Elanus leucurus) Seen with prey caught while conducting the 2018 Christmas Bird Count. Poway Grasslands, California (USA) 2018-12-22 |
Date Taken: 2018:12:22 12:21 |
|
Location:
Poway Grasslands |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 380 mm, f/5.6, 1/3200 |
File Name: WhiteTailedKite_D506250-PowayGrasslands |
| © 2018 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
White-Tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: Seen hunting for lunch while conducting the 2018 Christmas Bird Count. Poway Grasslands, California (USA) |
Date Taken: 2018:12:22 12:20 |
|
Location:
Poway Grasslands |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: WhiteTailedKite_D506231-PowayGrasslands |
| © 2018 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
White-tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: Near 'The Ponds' adjacent to Beeler Creek. Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2010:02:05 14:09 |
|
Location:
Poway Grove Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD6009.WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2010 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
White-tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: Near 'The Ponds' adjacent to Beeler Creek. Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2010:02:05 14:09 |
|
Location:
Poway Grove Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD6004.WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2010 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
White-tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: At 'The Ponds' adjacent to Beeler Creek. Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:06 11:51 |
|
Location:
Poway Grove (historical) |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD4981.WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2010 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
White-tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: Grasslands, South Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:05 16:45 |
|
Location:
Poway Grove (historical) |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD4802.WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2010 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
White-Tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: Grasslands, South Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:04:25 11:22 |
|
Location:
Poway Royal Mobile Estates |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: D3X1385-WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
White-tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: With prey in talons at the Grasslands, South Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:12:22 16:24 |
|
Location:
Poway Grove (historical) |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X9794-WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
White-Tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: At the Grasslands, South Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:12:22 16:18 |
|
Location:
Poway Grove (historical) |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X9774-WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
White-Tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: With prey in talons at the Grasslands, South Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:12:22 16:18 |
|
Location:
Poway Grove (historical) |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X9768-WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
White-tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: San Juan NWR, near Los Banos, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:28 11:34 |
|
Location:
San Juan NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X5727-WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
White-Tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:05:10 17:52 |
|
Location:
Poway Grove Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X2312-WhiteTailedKite |
| (C) 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
White-Tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:05:10 17:52 |
|
Location:
Poway Grove Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X2298-WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
White-Tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: Aerial combat in Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:05:10 17:52 |
|
Location:
Poway Grove Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X2291-WhiteTailedKite |
| (C) 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
White-Tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: Grasslands, South Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:04:29 8:31 |
|
Location:
Poway Royal Mobile Estates |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X1750-WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
White-Tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: Grasslands, South Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:04:29 8:32 |
|
Location:
Poway Royal Mobile Estates |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X1754-WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Click map markers to reveal further information
White-tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: With prey in talons at the Grasslands, South Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:12:22 16:24 |
|
Location:
Poway Grove (historical) |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X9798-WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
White-Tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: (Elanus leucurus) Seen with prey caught while conducting the 2018 Christmas Bird Count. Poway Grasslands, California (USA) 2018-12-22 |
Date Taken: 2018:12:22 12:21 |
|
Location:
Poway Grasslands |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 380 mm, f/5.6, 1/3200 |
File Name: WhiteTailedKite_D506250-PowayGrasslands |
| © 2018 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
White-Tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: Seen hunting for lunch while conducting the 2018 Christmas Bird Count. Poway Grasslands, California (USA) |
Date Taken: 2018:12:22 12:20 |
|
Location:
Poway Grasslands |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: WhiteTailedKite_D506231-PowayGrasslands |
| © 2018 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
White-tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: Near 'The Ponds' adjacent to Beeler Creek. Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2010:02:05 14:09 |
|
Location:
Poway Grove Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD6009.WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2010 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
White-tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: Near 'The Ponds' adjacent to Beeler Creek. Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2010:02:05 14:09 |
|
Location:
Poway Grove Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD6004.WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2010 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
White-tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: At 'The Ponds' adjacent to Beeler Creek. Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:06 11:51 |
|
Location:
Poway Grove (historical) |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD4981.WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2010 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
White-tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: Grasslands, South Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:05 16:45 |
|
Location:
Poway Grove (historical) |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD4802.WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2010 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
White-Tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: Grasslands, South Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:04:25 11:22 |
|
Location:
Poway Royal Mobile Estates |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: D3X1385-WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
White-tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: With prey in talons at the Grasslands, South Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:12:22 16:24 |
|
Location:
Poway Grove (historical) |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X9794-WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
White-Tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: At the Grasslands, South Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:12:22 16:18 |
|
Location:
Poway Grove (historical) |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X9774-WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
White-Tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: With prey in talons at the Grasslands, South Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:12:22 16:18 |
|
Location:
Poway Grove (historical) |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X9768-WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
White-tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: San Juan NWR, near Los Banos, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:28 11:34 |
|
Location:
San Juan NWR |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X5727-WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
White-Tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:05:10 17:52 |
|
Location:
Poway Grove Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X2312-WhiteTailedKite |
| (C) 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
White-Tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:05:10 17:52 |
|
Location:
Poway Grove Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X2298-WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
White-Tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: Aerial combat in Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:05:10 17:52 |
|
Location:
Poway Grove Park |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X2291-WhiteTailedKite |
| (C) 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
White-Tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: Grasslands, South Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:04:29 8:31 |
|
Location:
Poway Royal Mobile Estates |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X1750-WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
White-Tailed Kite(Elanus leucurus) |
|
Description: Grasslands, South Poway California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:04:29 8:32 |
|
Location:
Poway Royal Mobile Estates |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X1754-WhiteTailedKite |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Click map markers to reveal further information
