Black-winged Kite
Elanus caeruleus (Desfontaines, 1789)
BLSKI 
2350
Family: Accipitriformes > Accipitridae
A very rare vagrant to the UK, first recorded during 2023. This medium-sized raptor has a mostly southerly range, being found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent and extending into southeast Asia. In Europe it has been historically restricted to Iberia but since 1990 has bred in France, and more recently has colonised the Netherlands. The expanding range was foreshadowed by several overshooting migrants and the species has been long anticipated as a vagrant to the UK.
The first British record was seen by just two lucky individuals, in Montgomeryshire in April 2023. It or another individual then toured East Anglia during July 2023.
Identification
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Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.
CONSERVATION STATUS
This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.
| IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global) |
Least Concern 
|
| Schedule 1 license required (to disturb) | No |
| Birds Directive Annex 1 | No |
POPULATION SIZE
We have no population estimates for this scarce species.
|
First Record
|
Montgomeryshire, 2023 |
Movement
Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.
RINGING RECOVERIES
View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.
Biology
Lifecycle and body size information about Black-winged Kite, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.
PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING
Sample sizes are too small to report Productivity and Nesting statistics for this species.
CODES & CLASSIFICATION
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Field Codes
|
5-letter code: BLSKI | Euring: 2350 |
For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name
Links to more studies from ConservationEvidence.com
- Breeding biology during establishment of a reintroduced griffon vulture Gyps fulvus population
- Post-fledging dependence and dispersal in hacked and wild Montagu's harriers Circus pygargus
- Breeding biology of Montagu's harrier Circus pygargus L. in agricultural environments of southwest Spain; comparison with other populations in the western Palearctic
Read more studies about Black-winged Kite on Conservation Evidence >
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