Kites ( white-tailed kites )

t/f: are kites monophyletic

true

how many species and genera are there in Kites

21 species and 14 genera

how many kite species are there in North America

5

name the 5 kite species

hook-billed kite, swallow-tailed kite, mississipi kite, snail kite, white-tailed kite

snail kites usually prey on:

apple snails

how many subspecies of white-tailed kites are there

2 (north america E.I majusculus & South American leucurus )

white-tailed kites are close morphological and phylogenetic relationship with

black-winged kite

how can you identify white-tailed kites

dark carpal marking, bright color (white)

adult white-tailed kites are usually

solid white

juvenile white-tailed kites are usually

rusty

what is the range of white-tailed kites

west coast of Oregon to Baja & Central mexico, texas, florida & south to argentina and chile

what is the habitat for white-tailed kites

low elevation grassland . savannah-like and extensive freezing are avoided

do white-tailed kites prefer low or high elevation

low elevation grassland

in CA, the white-tailed kites are in

oak, riparian edge, marshes

what are white-tailed kites hunting strategies

hover hunting and some perched huntingw

what do white-tailed kites eat

small mammals, lizards and insects

what do they use in white-tailed kites nests

small sticks in trees

where do white-tailed kites often nest in

willows, eucalyptus, cottonwood, sycamorees, oaks

whar type of migration are white-tailed kites

NO MIGRATORY

t/f: are white-tailed kites nomadic in non-breeding season

yesss

where do white-tailed kites move to

areas with prey outbreaks

t/f: white-tailed kites were threaten with EXTINCTION in N. America in early 19000s

yes true due to how easy it was to shoot them

white-tailed kites are listed as a _ species in CA

fully protected

what are the reasons white-tailed kites decline in population

loss of grassland, disturbance at nest

white-tailed kites are (monogamous / polygamous)

monogamous

how many eggs per clutch do white-tailed kites have

3-6

how many clutches do white-tailed kites have annually

6-12

what year do white-tailed kites breed

2nd yr

how long do white-tailed kites live

more than 10 years

white-tailed kites are in non-breeding season

colonial

t/f: white-tailed kites have pointy wings

yess more pointierr

adult white-tailed kites have …

white underneath, gray on back and red eye

juveniles white-tailed kites have

buffy streaks on breast and head

this is an (adult / juvenile) white-tailed kites

adult