Pearl Kite

Gampsonyx swainsonii

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderAccipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies)
FamilyAccipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
GenusGampsonyx (Pearl Kites)
SpeciesGampsonyx swainsonii (Pearl Kite)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge

1 Verified sightings at Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge From 2019 to 2026

507 Verified sightings across all 31 parks From 2019 to 2026

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

About the Pearl Kite

The pearl kite (Gampsonyx swainsonii) is a very small raptor found in open savanna habitat adjacent to deciduous woodland in Central and South America. It is the only member of the genus Gampsonyx. The scientific name commemorates the English naturalist William Swainson.

The type specimen was collected from Brazil by English naturalist William Swainson, and described by Nicholas Aylward Vigors in 1825. Vigors noted the similarity to both hawks and falcons, but placed Gampsonyx within the "Accipitrine subfamily" because it lacks the notched beak of the falcons. He also noted its striking resemblance to the coloration of the falconets.

Later, the pearl kite was classified with the falcons. For example, Peters placed it with the forest falcons in subfamily Polyhieracinae. In the mid-20th century it was found to be related to Elanus based on morphology and its molt schedule.

This tiny kite breeds from Panama, Colombia and Venezuela south to Bolivia and northern Argentina, with an isolated sedentary population in Nicaragua. It is expanding its range and was proved to breed on Trinidad in 1970. It was first reported in Costa Rica... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge

Buteogallus anthracinus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Rupornis magnirostris

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Buteo platypterus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Ictinia mississippiensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Harpagus bidentatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Buteo swainsoni

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Buteo brachyurus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Elanoides forficatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Spizaetus tyrannus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Buteo nitidus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Leucopternis semiplumbeus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Ictinia plumbea

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

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	Darién National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
2	Cordillera Azul National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	<5%
3	Tayrona National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
4	Chapada dos Guimarães National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	<5%
5	El Impenetrable National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	<5%
6	Sierra de la Macarena National Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
7	Henri Pittier National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	<5%
8	Iguazú National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	<5%
9	Machalilla National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
10	Masaya Volcano National Park	🇳🇮 Nicaragua	<5%
11	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
12	Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve	🇪🇨 Ecuador	<5%
13	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
14	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
15	Caroni Swamp	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	Insufficient data
16	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
17	Rincón de la Vieja National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
18	Canaima National Park	🇻🇪 Venezuela	Insufficient data
19	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
20	Anavilhanas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	Insufficient data
21	Iberá National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	Insufficient data
22	Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
23	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
24	Chirripó National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
25	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
26	Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas	🇧🇷 Brazil	Insufficient data
27	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	Insufficient data
28	Farallones de Cali National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	Insufficient data
29	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	Insufficient data
30	Yasuní National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	Insufficient data
31	Tambopata National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	Insufficient data

← Back to Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge

Pearl Kite

About the Pearl Kite

Recent sightings of Pearl Kite in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge

Closest Relatives at Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge

Common Black-Hawk

Roadside Hawk

Broad-winged Hawk

Mississippi Kite

Double-toothed Kite

Swainson's Hawk

Short-tailed Hawk

American Swallow-tailed Kite

Black Hawk-Eagle

Gray-lined Hawk

Semiplumbeous Hawk

Plumbeous Kite

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found