Thanks to Julie Coffey from UCI, we have an update to the previous spotlight on the White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus). It was brought to our attention that our data and sources were old, and thus our conclusions are incorrect. These kites are in danger, and they need our help.
Despite legislation, like the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project, and being a State Fully Protected Species, White-tailed Kites populations have declined. Most recent analysis of their numbers, health, and habitat have earned these kites the keen eye of concerned local scientists. Fewer nests have been spotted year after year and to make matters worse, very little data is available to pinpoint the true population over the decades. Since the 2000’s, amateur birdwatchers and conservation scientists have noticed a decline in nesting pairs across the southwestern California region.
Since 2021, the UC Irvine has partnered with the Sea and Sage Audubon Society to continuously collect sightings of kites from around coastal Orange County and San Diego. Their surveys aim to collect information to determine migration patterns, population, and preferred prey. This ongoing community-lead research is vital to uncovering the exact issues which plague the kites, so we know how to help them.
Bird-watching is not packed with high-intensity content, but these kites may surprise you. Here are some key facts to make your kite spotting a success:
The White-tailed Kite is a fairly distinctive bird: small sized, white head, white body, gray-black wings, black shoulders, and of course, a white tail. Their eyes, upon closer inspection, are dark red. This achieves a dramatic color scheme one can only enjoy up close, or with binoculars. Their meter-wide wing span and aerial stabilizing skills elevates this bird from ‘elegant’ to ‘elegant and easy to spot’ making them an appealing model to observe.
Southern Californians are not the only ones able to enjoy these kites; they reside near oceans and rivers from North to South America. Kites prefer open grasslands, wetlands, and marshes for day-time needs, and they seek shelter in brush and trees at the edge of these ecosystems at night. Like many kites, travel is no obstacle and their energy efficient gliding technique will carry them until food is found, then they fly back at the end of the day. Their roosting behaviors shift throughout the year. During summer and fall the flocks of White-tailed Kites will crowd in a handful of trees. In fact, in the 70’s when the population was thriving, 100 kites could be found clustered in one tree! This behavior has been attributed to group safety and establishment of community within the region. Another sleep situation occurs during breeding season, when kites pair off in ‘serial monogamy’.
December marks the coupling of kites, after which they build nests in bushes or trees near their favorite wetland. Hatching of eggs is reported to happen anytime from February to June, and this varies from region to region. The eggs, typically 3-5 at a time, are incubated by the female as she defends the nest while the male provides food and patrols their territory. After hatching, the chicks require nearly two months of protection before achieving independence. This four to six month breeding process allows any casual observer ample opportunity to observe nesting kites– or even chicks! Be careful not to get too close, they are very territorial.
American Crows are a menace to baby kites, that’s why nests are patrolled by protective parents. During breeding season, male kites patrol the territory surrounding their nest. Anything dangerous which enters this zone is met with a talon-first-questions-later approach to defense. In defense of his family, the male Kite will ‘grapple’ with the bird mid-flight. The adversaries slash and jab at one another until one retreats… or falls. This spectacular display of dominance is dazzling to see in person.
The hunting strategy of kites is not unique among aerial predators. Dive bombing from above, they use their aerodynamic bodies to snatch rodents, rabbits, and reptiles. What makes this noteworthy is the precise maneuverability these birds possess in the air. To properly watch and stalk their prey, the White-tailed kites glide in such a way to keep their head, and only their head, completely stable before attacking. Not only is this an incredible feat of control, but it makes this predator’s hunting process very easy for us humans to observe! Their gray underwing and underbelly helps the birds blend into the sky from below, but their bright white backs are easy to spot from a distance. Which is another huge plus for bird watchers and everyone else enjoying our local California wetlands. Those who are interested in witnessing this event should plan to arrive just after dawn to have the best chance.
Video of a White Tailed Kite honing in on its prey before diving in for the kill.
The one page survey recording your White-tailed Kite sightings can help the Sea & Sage Audubon Society foster real change in our ecological community. Thank you again, OC Habitats community, and let us know below if you spot any kites where you live!
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Due to serious legislation, like the Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project, in the past fifty years, the White Tailed Kites are thriving. Most recent analysis of their numbers, health, and habitat have earned these Kites the label of ‘least concern’. Their preferred wetlands have been protected for decades and bird egg collecting is also illegal, so these stunning hunters are operating as carefree as they possibly could be. Not only are White Tailed Kites enjoyable and easy to watch, but support of their species and ecosystem will support the protection of vital southern California wetlands. They fly as soaring examples of environmental legislation succeeding, and now the public can reap what we have sown.
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