Black-shouldered Kite

Afrikaans name: Blouvalk

Black-shouldered Kite

Photo © Steven Herbert

Elanus caeruleus

Some sources call this species the Black-winged Kite to avoid confusion with the Black-shouldered Kite found in Australia (I think that the Australians should rename their species).

The black shoulders of this species are very evident when the bird is perched.

The Black-shouldered Kite is often seen hovering over open grassland while it hunts for prey. There are very few birds in South Africa that can actually hover as these birds can. Most need to do it into a strong breeze.

Their prey includes small rodents, insects and lizards.

They lay 3 or 4 eggs in a nest made of twigs.

Photo © Steven Herbert

The Black-shouldered Kite can be found virtually anywhere in South Africa. Although it may be found in a variety of habitats it prefers grassland, cultivated land and fynbos. Beyond South Africa's birders it is widely distributed through to India and parts of Europe.

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References and further reading

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Year Published: 1983 - Page: 69

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1959 - Page: 126

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 126

African Birds of Prey - Author: Leslie Brown - Year Published: 1970 - Page: 52

An Introduction to the Birds of Prey of South Africa - Author: D.V. Prout-Jones - Year Published: 1974 - Page: 72

An Introduction to the Birds of Prey of South Africa - Author: D.V. Prout-Jones - Year Published: 1974 - Page: 90

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 69

Birds of Prey of Southern Africa - Author: Peter Steyn - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 46

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 78

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Year Published: 1992 - Page: 15

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Year Published: - Page: 51

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 45

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 14

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Year Published: 2005 - Page: 15

Eagles, Hawks & Falcons of the World - Author: Leslie Brown and Dean Amadon - Year Published: 1989 - Page: 240

Everyone's Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 29

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 50

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Year Published: 2004 - Page: 179

Ian Sinclair's Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Year Published: 1988 - Page: 88

Know your Birds of Prey - Author: - Year Published: - Page: 24

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 1984 - Page: 174

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 2000 - Page: 174

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Year Published: 1990 - Page: 17

Reader's Digest Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of Southern Africa - 2nd edi - Author: Editor - Alan Duggan - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 409

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Year Published: 1949 - Page: 51

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 88

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1981 - Page: 93

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 113

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 109

Sasol Birds of Prey of Africa and its Islands - Author: Alan and Meg Kemp - Year Published: 1998 - Page: 194

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 106

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 114

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Year Published: 1989 - Page: 51

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Year Published: 1979 - Page: 8

The Status & Conservation of Birds of Prey in the Transvaal - Author: W. Tarboton and D. Allan - Year Published: 1984 - Page: 24

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 48

List of South African Birds