What to Know About Black-shouldered Kites in Uganda?

The Black-Shouldered Kite in Uganda is one of the African birds in Uganda seen during birding safaris in Uganda. The black-shouldered kite is a small raptor in the Accipitridae family measuring about 35cm in length with a wingspan of 80–100 cm.

It has a life expectancy of 6 years in the wild. In Uganda, the black shouldered kite is located in Murchison falls national park.

the air – quite lovely to behold! A series of weak calls are emitted by the birds during this display.

Scientifically known as Elanus axillaris, the Black Shouldered Kite is a small bird of prey which is also known as the Australian Black Shouldered Kite and found inhabiting throughout Australia, the treed grasslands, coastal areas, vacant wastelands, farms, urban areas and along the roads. Generally this bird species is found within the valleys that bares scattered clumps of trees, open grasslands and where the grass is accessible about 30 centimeters high from the air.

Physical description of the Black Shouldered kite

Being a medium sized bird, the Black Shouldered kite measures around 35 centimeters in length with quite wide wings spanning over 80 to 100 centimeters. The adult bird species is characterized with a predominantly grey to whitish layer of feathers or plumage.

Black Shouldered Kite features red eyes and prominent black markings above them and black patched wings from where its name is derived. This kite spec ies generally features a pure white head, tail and body along with black shoulders hence being with a mostly pale grey colour above.

The bird species is characterized with a white underneath and yellowish nostrils along side legs and feet that has one toe facing backwards and three toes facing forward. It has a quick shallow wing beats which is accompanied with a direct flight and interspersed with glides on upswept wings.

Mainly the female Black Shouldered Kite is always larger than  the male bird and often seen hovering and dangling feet. Both male and female bird species bare similar plumage that is, layer of feathers and also characterized with a sharp short black bill which has a tip that is hooked to the upper mandible.

Juvenile Black Shouldered Kite  features a rusty brown neck, chin and white forehead along with darker streaked breast and nape. It also bares a mottled buff to brown wings and back hence has a less distinctive dark patch on the shoulder and a comma shaped patch over the eyes which is much larger.

Behaviour of the Black Shouldered Kite

The Black Shouldered Kite is generally a silent bird species primarily uttering a clear whistle like call while in flight and hovering and during the breeding season where it produces different calls that include harmony, whistle, chatter and harsh vocalisations.

This bird species mainly feeds on rodents particularly the Mus musculus and House mouse where it follows the mouse plagues in the agricultural areas. Black Shouldered Kite also feeds on insects like grasshoppers and it does its hunting during the day in early morning and late afternoon.

While searching for food, the Kite species hovers around with its upright held V-shaped wings and after detecting the prey, it drops down on the ground and grabs the prey with its talons. It normally eats the prey items while flying however it sometimes eat s it on a pearch that is a high tree or any structures like the power poles.

Black Shouldered Kite mainly roost communally and when there is insuficient food , it becomes very territorial and also performs a territorial display by flicking persistently the tail up and lower while on landing.

Breeding and Reproduction process of the Black Shouldered Kite

During the breeding season that occurs in July to December, this bird species forms monogamous pairs and the male feeds the female in mid air while in courtship. This happens when the mates hold prey with their feet and the female flip upside down to accept the food from the male species while both in flight.

The nest is constructed by both partners and is always a shallow cup of sticks lined with felted fur and green leaves that is large and untidy and built on a high tree, a power pole and bridge.

During the reproduction process, the female Black Shouldered Kite lays a clutch of two to five  dull white tapered oval shaped eggs having measurements of 42 mm by 31 mm. The eggs bares a red brownish blotch which is mainly heavier around the larger end of the egg.

Incubation of the laid eggs is done by both parents and it takes a period of 34 days. After hutching, the female broods the chicks constantly for the first two weeks and within this period the male carries out the hunting to feed the chicks and their mother.

Fledging of the young ones happens about 36 days after hatching and within this period, the parents will continue taking care of the chicks for another 22 days until they totally learn how to hunt and survive on their own.