Elanus caeruleus (Desfontaines, 1789)

A small black and white coloured bird of prey, often seen hovering over grasslands while hunting for prey. When perched it can often be seen adjusting its wings and jerking its tail up and down to balance itself.

This is the smallest of the kites, ashy grey above and white below. It has a black line above the eye, and black patches on the shoulders, visible at rest and in flight. When closed the tips of the wings extend beyond the short white tail. It occasionally cocks its tail, jerking it up and down between drooping wings. It is found in areas of open scrub, grassland and cultivation, such as the lower slopes of the Hill, around Keezhnathur Eri and the Farm. It is also found on the outskirts of villages and towns, and can be seen alone or in pairs, perched on the same pole day after day. It feeds on insects and small mammals, dropping onto its prey from its perch or from a hovering position in mid-air, after quartering its territory.

The season is an extended one anil covers practically the entire year. The two principal periods, however, are December to March and July to October. The nest is a loose, untidy crow-like structure of twigs, sometimes lined with roots and grass, at others unlincd. It is placed in a small tree, seldom more than 30 feet from the ground. The eggs three or four in number- are a pretty yellowish-white, usually densely blotched with brownish-red. Both sexes share in building the nest, incubation, and feeding the young. The female does the major part of the incubation, the male of the food-getting.

About that of the Jungle-Crow, but somewhat slenderer.

A small ashy-grey and white bird of prey, with a black line above the eyes and black pitches on the shoulders, especially prominent on the closed wings which extend beyond the square tail. Sexes alike.

The Black-winged Kite inhabits well-wooded country and cultivation. It is met with, singly or in pairs, also in thin deciduous forest, scrub country and grassland, but avoids dense jungle and barren plains alike. Although somewhat crepuscular and more active in the early mornings and just before dusk, the bird may nevertheless be seen hunting sluggishly throughout the day. It keeps to a favoured locality and may be seen perched on the same pole or tree-top day after day, cocking its tail from time to time and jerking it up and down between the drooping wings. From here it pounces upon any prey that shows itself on the ground. It beats over the ground flying low, and hovers cumbrously every now and again. When some movement in the grass is detected, the bird, with wings open and often raised above the back till almost touching each other only the tips quivering slowly parachutes down a short distance to investigate, extending its legs gradually at the same time. The hovering is resumed and presently it descends a step lower to investigate more closely. In this manner, when within a few feet of its quarry it closes its wings, drops upon the victim and bears it away in its claws. Its food consists of locusts, crickets and other insects, lizards, rats and mice. Sickly or wounded birds are also taken. The ordinary flight is sluggish, accomplished by slow deliberate wing strokes as of the Roller, and alternated with short spurts of sailing. The call, seldom heard, is a shrill squeal, described in the typical African race as a monotonous, oft repeated gree-er, gree-er.

They inhabit in well-wooded country and cultivation, also thin deciduous forest and grassland.

Seen singly or pairs, in scrub country or grassland.

IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern

Red List Category & Criteria: Least Concern ver 3.1