Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

Silhouette: Catherine Yasuda · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderAccipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies)
FamilyAccipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
GenusElanus (Elanus Kites)
SpeciesElanus caeruleus (Black-winged Kite)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Camargue

5 Verified sightings at Camargue From 2019 to 2026

15,172 Verified sightings across all 100 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Black-winged Kite

The black-winged kite (Elanus caeruleus), also known as the black-shouldered kite (not to be confused with the closely related Australian species of the same name), is a small diurnal bird of prey in the family Accipitridae best known for its habit of hovering over open grasslands in the manner of the much smaller kestrels. This Palearctic and Afrotropical species was sometimes combined with the Australian black-shouldered kite (Elanus axillaris) and the white-tailed kite (Elanus leucurus) of North and South America which together form a superspecies. This kite is distinctive, with long wings; white, grey and black plumage; and owl-like forward-facing eyes with red irises. The owl-like behaviour is even more pronounced in the letter-winged kite (Elanus scriptus), a nocturnal relative in Australia. Although mainly seen on plains, they are sometimes seen on grassy slopes of hills in the higher elevation regions of Asia. They are not migratory, but show nomadism in response to weather and food availability. They are well adapted to utilize periodic upsurges in rodent populations and can raise multiple broods in a single year unlike most birds of prey. Populations in southern Europe have grown in response to human activities, particularly agriculture and livestock rearing. It is now present in Southwest France. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Camargue

Circus aeruginosus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Buteo buteo

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Milvus migrans

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Circaetus gallicus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Circus pygargus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Aquila heliaca

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Accipiter nisus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Circus cyaneus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Milvus milvus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Pernis apivorus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Hieraaetus pennatus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Aquila fasciata

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~40%
2	Pilanesberg National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~40%
3	Samburu National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~40%
4	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~30%
5	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~30%
6	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	~30%
7	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~30%
8	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	~20%
9	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~20%
10	Keoladeo National Park	🇮🇳 India	~20%
11	Ranthambore National Park	🇮🇳 India	~20%
12	Awash National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	~20%
13	Horton Plains National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~20%
14	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~20%
15	Queen Elizabeth National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~20%
16	Jim Corbett National Park	🇮🇳 India	~20%
17	Satpura National Park	🇮🇳 India	~20%
18	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~20%
19	Kidepo Valley National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~20%
20	Kerinci Seblat National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~20%
21	Meru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~20%
22	Way Kambas National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~20%
23	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~20%
24	Kanha National Park	🇮🇳 India	~10%
25	Mkomazi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
26	Murchison Falls National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~10%
27	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
28	Bandhavgarh National Park	🇮🇳 India	~10%
29	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
30	Waterberg Plateau Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	~10%
31	Amboseli National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
32	Golden Gate Highlands National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
33	Gir National Park	🇮🇳 India	~10%
34	Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
35	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	~10%
36	Aberdare National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
37	Eravikulam National Park	🇮🇳 India	~10%
38	Lake Mburo National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	~10%
39	Manas National Park	🇮🇳 India	~10%
40	Kaziranga National Park	🇮🇳 India	~10%
41	Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
42	Khao Yai National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~10%
43	Kafue National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~10%
44	Chitwan National Park	🇳🇵 Nepal	~10%
45	Lower Zambezi National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	~10%
46	Nagarhole National Park	🇮🇳 India	~10%
47	Bandipur National Park	🇮🇳 India	~10%
48	Mikumi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
49	Garden Route National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
50	Lake Manyara National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
51	Arusha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
52	Monfragüe National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	<5%
53	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	<5%
54	Chobe National Park	🇧🇼 Botswana	<5%
55	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	<5%
56	Etosha National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	<5%
57	Mana Pools National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	<5%
58	Virunga National Park	🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo	<5%
59	Doñana National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	<5%
60	Periyar National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
61	Mudumalai National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
62	Royal Bardia National Park	🇳🇵 Nepal	<5%
63	Niokolo-Koba National Park	🇸🇳 Senegal	<5%
64	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
65	Wilpattu National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	<5%
66	Sierra Nevada National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	<5%
67	Minneriya National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	<5%
68	Table Mountain National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
69	Namdapha National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
70	Cévennes National Park	🇫🇷 France	<5%
71	Yala National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	<5%
72	Sundarbans National Park	🇮🇳 India	<5%
73	Semuliki National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	<5%
74	Namib-Naukluft National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	<5%
75	Pyrénées National Park	🇫🇷 France	<5%
76	Kibale National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	<5%
77	Royal Manas National Park	🇧🇹 Bhutan	<5%
78	Taroko National Park	🇹🇼 Taiwan	<5%
79	Bwindi Impenetrable National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	<5%
80	Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary	🇲🇾 Malaysia	<5%
81	Kaeng Krachan National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	<5%
82	Tanjung Puting National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	Insufficient data
83	Gorongosa National Park	🇲🇿 Mozambique	Insufficient data
84	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
85	Gunung Leuser National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	Insufficient data
86	Bale Mountains National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	Insufficient data
87	Komodo National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	Insufficient data
88	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	Insufficient data
89	Bali Barat National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	Insufficient data
90	Volcanoes National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	Insufficient data
91	Khao Sok National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	Insufficient data
92	Camargue	🇫🇷 France	Insufficient data
93	Taman Negara National Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	Insufficient data
94	Nyungwe National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	Insufficient data
95	Doi Inthanon National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	Insufficient data
96	Kinabalu Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	Insufficient data
97	Sepilok	🇲🇾 Malaysia	Insufficient data
98	Cat Tien National Park	🇻🇳 Vietnam	Insufficient data
99	Sierra de Guadarrama National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	Insufficient data
100	Wadden Sea National Park	🇩🇪 Germany	Insufficient data

← Back to Camargue

Black-winged Kite

About the Black-winged Kite

Recent sightings of Black-winged Kite in Camargue

Closest Relatives at Camargue

Western Marsh-Harrier

Common Buzzard

Black Kite

Short-toed Eagle

Montagu's Harrier

Imperial Eagle

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Hen Harrier

Red Kite

European Honey-buzzard

Booted Eagle

Bonelli's Eagle

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found