Kite (bird)
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[Photo] Milvus migrans govinda, Pariah Kite, Indian race of Black Kite. Photo by Srihari Kulkarni, Bangalore India.

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genera
Subfamily Milvinae: Harpagus, Ictinia, Rostrhamus, Helicolestes, Haliastur, Milvus, Lophoictinia, Hamirostra
Subfamily Elaninae: Elanus, Chelictinia, Machaerhamphus, Gampsonyx, Elanoides

Kites are raptors with long wings and weak legs which spend a great deal of time soaring. In general they feed on carrion but may also take live prey.

They are birds of prey which along with hawks, eagles, Old World vultures and many others are in the family Accipitridae.

Together with less closely related groups such as New World vultures and Osprey, they make up the diurnal bird of prey order Falconiformes.

Species list

Subfamily Elaninae
Black-winged Kite, Elanus caeruleus
Black-shouldered Kite, Elanus axillaris
White-tailed Kite, Elanus leucurus
Letter-winged Kite, Elanus scriptus
Scissor-tailed Kite, Chelictinia riocourii
Bat Hawk, Machaerhamphus alcinus
Pearl Kite, Gampsonyx swainsonii
Swallow-tailed Kite, Elanoides forficatus

Subfamily Milvinae
Double-toothed Kite, Harpagus bidentatus
Rufous-thighed Kite, Harpagus diodon
Mississippi Kite, Ictinia mississippiensis
Plumbeous Kite, Ictinia plumbea
Snail Kite, Rostrhamus sociabilis
Slender-billed Kite, Helicolestes hamatus - formerly in Rostrhamus
Whistling Kite, Haliastur sphenurus
Brahminy Kite, Haliastur indus
Red Kite, Milvus milvus
Cape Verde Kite, Milvus (milvus) fasciicauda - extinct (2000)
Black Kite, Milvus migrans
Black-eared Kite, Milvus (migrans) lineatus
Yellow-billed Kite, Milvus (migrans) aegyptius
Square-tailed Kite, Lophoictinia isura
Black-breasted Buzzard, Hamirostra melanosternon

A few of the Perninae are also called kites.

Grey-headed Kite, Leptodon cayanensis
White-collared Kite, Leptodon forbesi
Hook-billed Kite, Chondrohierax uncinatus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kite_%28bird%29

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