![]() The swallow-tailed kite is largely associated with large tracts of wetland forests which accommodates the birds nesting habits. Habitat and distribution Swallow-tailed kite Sometimes a high-pitched chirp is emitted, though the birds mostly remain silent. Young swallow-tailed kites are duller in color than the adults, and the tail is not as deeply forked. The forked tail is 27.5–37 centimeters long. The underside of the wings is partly black and partly white. The upper side of the wings is black along with the, tail, feet, and bill. The body is a contrasting deep black and white. ![]() ĥ0 to 68 cm in length, with a wingspan of 1.12–1.36 m with a wing chord measuring 39–45 cm. The tarsus is fairly short for the size of the bird at 3.3 cm (1.3 in). The wings are also relatively elongated, as the wing chord measures 39–45 cm (15–18 in). Another characteristic is the elongated, forked tail at 27.5–37 centimetres (10.8–14.6 in) long, hence the name swallow-tailed. The flight feathers, tail, feet, bill are all black. Male and female individuals appear similar. The species is 50 to 68 cm (20 to 27 in) in length, with a wingspan of approximately 1.12–1.36 m (3.7–4.5 ft). The name is from Ancient Greek elanos for "kite" and -oides for "resembling". The genus Elanoides was introduced by the French ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot in 1818. The latter spelling was used widely during the 18th and 19th centuries, but the original spelling has precedence. It was given the binomial scientific name Falco forficatus by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae, published in 1758 he changed this to Falco furcatus in the 12th edition of 1766. ![]() The swallow-tailed kite was first described as the "swallow-tail hawk" and " accipiter cauda furcata" (forked-tail hawk) by the English naturalist Mark Catesby in 1731. Most North and Central American breeders winter in South America where the species is resident year round. It is the only species in the genus Elanoides. The swallow-tailed kite ( Elanoides forficatus) is a pernine raptor which breeds from the southeastern United States to eastern Peru and northern Argentina. Elanoides yetapa Vieillot, 1818 (now a subspecies) ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |