Brahminy Kite
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| Haliastur indus Boddaert, 1783 |
The Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus), also known as the Red-backed Sea-eagle, is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers.
This kite is a familiar sight in the skies of India and southeast Asia and as far south as New South Wales, Australia, through which region it is widespread and resident.
It has a typical kite flight, with wings angled, but its tail is rounded unlike the Milvus species, Red Kite and Black Kite, which have forked tails.
The Brahminy Kite is an attractive bird, with chestnut plumage except for the white head and breast and black wing tips. The juveniles are browner, but can be distinguished from both the resident and migratory races of Black Kite in Asia by the paler appearance, shorter wings and rounded tail.
This species nests in trees, often close to water. It feeds as a scavenger.
Known as elang bondol in Indonesia, the Brahminy Kite is the official mascot of Jakarta. It is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In Malaysia, the island of Langkawi is named after the bird ('kawi' describing an ochre-like stone used to decorate pottery, and a reference to the bird's primary plumage colour).
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Haliastur indus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
