Black-shouldered Kite
Elanus axillaris ‡
Barren Ground, Budderoo NP, SE NSW IMG_2039 20250528
Notes: Small raptor. Yellow legs, feet. Black eye-patch
extends behind red eye. Underwing has
black patch near carpal joint.
Cf Letter-winged Kite:
obvious black carpal bar, whitish legs & feet,
& eye-patch not
extending behind. Female slightly larger, darker grey above. Juvenile has
rich
brown-orange gorget, hindneck & crown. Hovers often w. slow
wing beats, plunging w. wings held
high. Unlike
Nankeen Kestrel hunts mostly in early morning & late afternoon in
open habitats.
Range from Morcombe©
Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, S Vic IMG_1405 20190430
Koch Road, Taldra, E SA FN Qld IMG_0774 20230531 - CLICK for another view.
Toowoomba, SE Qld IMG_6907 20180622
Cuttaburra Crossing, FW Qld IMG_8455 20240927
Koch Road, Taldra, E SA FN Qld IMG_0823 20230531 - mating. Click for fly-off.
Birdsville Caravan Park, FSW Qld FN Qld IMG_5244 20200915 - black patch near carpal joint; different to obvious blackcarpal-bar of Letter-winged Kite. CLICK for young one at Bough Shed Waterhole, Bladensburg NP, SE NSW 20250916.
Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, S Vic IMG_9888 20171109 - young adult: still has brownish-yellow iris.
Western Treatment Plant, Werribee, S Vic IMG_3949 20180203 - juvenile: brownish-orange upper body & crown, whitefringes to wing coverts, yellow-brown iris.
Sturt Highway, W Vic FN Qld IMG_0524 20230530
Barren Ground, Budderoo NP, SE NSW IMG_2046 20250528
Batemans Bay, SE NSW, FN Qld MVI_5574 20190308 - being harrassed by Willy Wagtail