Letter-winged kite / Schwarzachselaar (Elanus scriptus)

Wikipedia: Letter-winged kite Source: WIKIPEDIA Kite%2C_Letter-winged_-_Strzelecki_Track_25-08-07_IMG_1519aa.jpg

Observations

🔍 No documented observation

Description

Classification: Genus Elanus (Elanus); Subfamily True hawks (Accipitrinae); Family Accipitridae (Accipitridae)
General: The letter-winged kite (Elanus scriptus) is a small, rare and irruptive bird of prey that is found only in Australia. Measuring around 35 cm (14 in) in length with a wingspan of 84–100 cm (33–39 in), the adult letter-winged kite has predominantly pale grey and white plumage and prominent black rings around its red eyes. It gains its name from the highly distinctive black underwing pattern of a shallow 'M' or 'W' shape, seen when in flight. This distinguishes it from the otherwise similar black-shouldered kite. [more]