Identification: Upper parts are pale grey with a black patcharound the shoulder of the wing. The underparts are white except a small, black patch under the wing.There is a small, black patch above the orange-red eye.

Call/Song: The black-shouldered kite makes rapidly uttered sharp whistles as well as a wheezing when attacking other birds or defending the nest. 

Distributed throughout all mainland Australia and northern Tasmania.

Habitat:Found in margins of forests, woodland, lightly timbered country, grasslands and parklands.

Feeding: Eats small ground animals (for example, lizards, snakes, rats) and insects.

Breeding/Nesting: Breeds May to September; usually nests in tree forks at canopy height. Nest is roughly made of sticks and is lined with leaves.

Movement: When hunting, can be seen hovering, searching for prey.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

photo:  Queensland DEH photo:  Queensland DEH

Status:

Distribution: Can be seen in any open areas, but particularly around the farmlands as one approaches the climb of the plateau.

Abundance: Usually not common. Mostly absent in summer and spring with a few birds appearing in autumn and winter during most years.

Queensland Museum (1995) Wildlife of Greater Brisbane, Queensland Museum, Brisbane.

Reader's Digest Services (1979) Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds, Surry Hills, NSW.

Nielsen, L (1991) Birds of Lamington National Park and Envrions, Beudesert Times, Queensland.