The scissor-tailed kite (Chelictinia riocourii), also known as African swallow-tailed kite or fork-tailed kite, is a bird of prey in the monotypic genus Chelictinia in the family Accipitridae.[2] It is widespread in the northern tropics of Africa.
The species was illustrated in 1821 for a work by Coenraad Temminck, and described in 1822 by Louis Vieillot. It had been grouped with the Elanus kites or with the larger American swallow-tailed kite; in 1843 René Lesson assigned it to a separate genus, Chelictinia.[3]
The genus name Chelictinia is possibly derived from Greek χελιδών or χελιδονι (chelidon), the swallow,[4] with ικτινοσ (iktinos), the kite. The specific epithet riocourii honours the Count Rioucour, Antoine François du Bois "first president in the Royal Court of Nancy, and possessor of a beautiful collection of birds".[3][5] However, some sources refer to his son, Antoine Nicolas François, who was a contemporary of Vieillot.,[6][7]
Description
The scissor-tailed kite is a small, slim grey and white kite with a relatively weak bill, a broad head, long pointed wings and a deeply forked tail. The adults are generally pale grey above and white below, with a white forehead and a black patch around the eyes. In flight the dark greyish flight feathers contrast with the inner underwing edges, there is also an obvious black bar across the carpal. Juveniles are darker on the back with rufous edges to the feathers and creamier below. It has a distinctive almost tern like flight and frequently hovers into the wind like a kestrel. The red eyes of the adult are also a distinctive feature.[8]
Distribution and habitat
The species inhabits the arid savannah of the Sahel region of Africa, occurring mainly in a band between 8° and 15° N that stretches from Senegal on the west coast to Sudan in the east. There are also populations breeding in Ethiopia and Kenya.[9]"
When breeding the scissor-tailed kite feeds mainly on skinks and other lizards, as well as small snakes, rodents and arthropods. Usually hunts on the wing, occasionally pursuing insects flushed by grass fires. When termites emerge or locusts swarm, there may be gatherings of scissor-tailed kites. Loose flocks have been known to associate with cattle, flying immediately overhead and hawking any insects that they flush.[8]
They breed in loose colonies of up to 20 pairs, although will do so as single pairs, mainly on May to August but breeds in December to February in the west and March- June or August in Kenya. A small stick nest is built an acacia or thorny bush at 2-8m from the ground. The nest is often sited close to the nest of a large raptor such as a secretary bird or a brown snake eagle, occasionally close to buildings.[8]
Status
The species is vulnerable to degradation of the habitat and pesticides. However, populations seem to be locally common in spite of decline in some parts of the range.[1]
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chelictinia riocourii.
Wikispecies has information related to Chelictinia riocourii.
^ abBirdLife International (2021). "Chelictinia riocourii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T22695042A198901327. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22695042A198901327.en. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
^ abTemminck, C. J. (Coenraad Jacob) (1824). "Milan Riocour". Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux, vol. 1. M. Vieillot a dédié cette espèce à M. le comte de Riocour, premier président en la Cour royale de Nanci, et possesseur d'une belle collection d'oiseaux.
^Thompson, D'Arcy Wentworth (1895). "Χελιδών". A Glossary of Greek Birds. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 186.
^"Antoine François du Boys de Riocour". Geneanet. Retrieved 27 April 2016. Conseiller d'Etat du roi de Pologne et 1er président de la Chambre des comptes de Lorraine The surname du Boys is also written as du Bois or Dubois.
^Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 336. ISBN978-1-4081-2501-4.
^Lesson, René Primevère (12 January 1843). "Index Ornithologique par Lesson". L'Echo du Monde Savant. Year 10, no. 3, column 60–63.
^ abcFerguson-Lees, James; Christie, David A. (2001). Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm. p. 449. ISBN0-7136-8026-1.
scissor, tailed, kite, scissor, tailed, kite, chelictinia, riocourii, also, known, african, swallow, tailed, kite, fork, tailed, kite, bird, prey, monotypic, genus, chelictinia, family, accipitridae, widespread, northern, tropics, africa, flying, north, region. The scissor tailed kite Chelictinia riocourii also known as African swallow tailed kite or fork tailed kite is a bird of prey in the monotypic genus Chelictinia in the family Accipitridae 2 It is widespread in the northern tropics of Africa Scissor tailed kiteFlying in Far North Region CameroonConservation statusVulnerable IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder AccipitriformesFamily AccipitridaeGenus Chelictinia Lesson 1843 Species C riocouriiBinomial nameChelictinia riocourii Vieillot 1822 SynonymsElanoides riocouri Vieillot 1823 Falco riocour Temminck 1824Elanus riocouri Vigors 1824Nauclerus riocouri Vigors 1825Nauclerus africanus Swainson 1837Chelidopteryx riocourii Kaup 1845 Contents 1 Taxonomy and systematics 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Behaviour and ecology 5 Status 6 ReferencesTaxonomy and systematics EditThe species was illustrated in 1821 for a work by Coenraad Temminck and described in 1822 by Louis Vieillot It had been grouped with the Elanus kites or with the larger American swallow tailed kite in 1843 Rene Lesson assigned it to a separate genus Chelictinia 3 The genus name Chelictinia is possibly derived from Greek xelidwn or xelidoni chelidon the swallow 4 with iktinos iktinos the kite The specific epithet riocourii honours the Count Rioucour Antoine Francois du Bois first president in the Royal Court of Nancy and possessor of a beautiful collection of birds 3 5 However some sources refer to his son Antoine Nicolas Francois who was a contemporary of Vieillot 6 7 Description EditThe scissor tailed kite is a small slim grey and white kite with a relatively weak bill a broad head long pointed wings and a deeply forked tail The adults are generally pale grey above and white below with a white forehead and a black patch around the eyes In flight the dark greyish flight feathers contrast with the inner underwing edges there is also an obvious black bar across the carpal Juveniles are darker on the back with rufous edges to the feathers and creamier below It has a distinctive almost tern like flight and frequently hovers into the wind like a kestrel The red eyes of the adult are also a distinctive feature 8 Distribution and habitat EditThe species inhabits the arid savannah of the Sahel region of Africa occurring mainly in a band between 8 and 15 N that stretches from Senegal on the west coast to Sudan in the east There are also populations breeding in Ethiopia and Kenya 9 It is found in many countries including Benin Burkina Faso Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Ivory Coast Djibouti Eritrea Ethiopia Gambia Ghana Kenya Liberia Mali Mauritania Niger Nigeria Senegal Somalia Sudan Togo Uganda and is also found in Yemen 9 Behaviour and ecology EditWhen breeding the scissor tailed kite feeds mainly on skinks and other lizards as well as small snakes rodents and arthropods Usually hunts on the wing occasionally pursuing insects flushed by grass fires When termites emerge or locusts swarm there may be gatherings of scissor tailed kites Loose flocks have been known to associate with cattle flying immediately overhead and hawking any insects that they flush 8 They breed in loose colonies of up to 20 pairs although will do so as single pairs mainly on May to August but breeds in December to February in the west and March June or August in Kenya A small stick nest is built an acacia or thorny bush at 2 8m from the ground The nest is often sited close to the nest of a large raptor such as a secretary bird or a brown snake eagle occasionally close to buildings 8 Status EditThe species is vulnerable to degradation of the habitat and pesticides However populations seem to be locally common in spite of decline in some parts of the range 1 References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chelictinia riocourii Wikispecies has information related to Chelictinia riocourii a b BirdLife International 2021 Chelictinia riocourii IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021 e T22695042A198901327 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2021 3 RLTS T22695042A198901327 en Retrieved 1 January 2022 ITIS Report Chelictinia Integrated Taxonomic Information System Retrieved 19 September 2014 a b Temminck C J Coenraad Jacob 1824 Milan Riocour Nouveau recueil de planches coloriees d oiseaux vol 1 M Vieillot a dedie cette espece a M le comte de Riocour premier president en la Cour royale de Nanci et possesseur d une belle collection d oiseaux Thompson D Arcy Wentworth 1895 Xelidwn A Glossary of Greek Birds Oxford Clarendon Press p 186 Antoine Francois du Boys de Riocour Geneanet Retrieved 27 April 2016 Conseiller d Etat du roi de Pologne et 1er president de la Chambre des comptes de Lorraine The surname du Boys is also written as du Bois or Dubois Jobling James A 2010 The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names London Christopher Helm p 336 ISBN 978 1 4081 2501 4 Lesson Rene Primevere 12 January 1843 Index Ornithologique par Lesson L Echo du Monde Savant Year 10 no 3 column 60 63 a b c Ferguson Lees James Christie David A 2001 Raptors of the World Christopher Helm p 449 ISBN 0 7136 8026 1 a b BirdLife International Species factsheet Chelictinia riocourii Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Scissor tailed kite amp oldid 1118475960, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
