It is a mid-sized, slender raptor with an invariably striped belly and banded tail but there is probably more individual variation in color and in size of bill than in any other species of diurnal raptor. Birds from beneath can look blackish or gray (especially males) and brown or brick-red (females) variously. This renders species identification at times extremely difficult. The downcurved hook at the tip of the beak is apparent on perched and low-flying birds. Weight can range from 215 to 397 g (7.6 to 14.0 oz) and length is 38–51 cm (15–20 in).[3][4]
Ecologyedit
Tree snails (e.g. Bulimulus, Homolanyx, and Polymita) are a vital component of the hook-billed kite’s diet.[5][6] The density of their population within a region is proportional to the presence of tree snails. It has also been observed that the beak of the hook-billed kite has adapted in size and shape between different regions of their territory in response to the species of tree snail available to them.[7] However, terrestrial snails (e.g. Strophocheilus), aquatic snails (e.g. Pomacea), frogs, salamanders, lizards, small mammals, crabs, spiders, caterpillars, and insects are also taken.[8][9][10] It supposedly also hunts other birds, but this seems unlikely.[11] When it finds a tree snail it holds it with its talon and uses its beak to pry open the shell.
Breedingedit
The nest, a flimsy platform of sticks, is built by both sexes. The hook-billed kite lays two to three buff-white eggs marked with red-brown. Incubation is by both sexes. Semialtricial young stay in the nest 35–45 days and are fed by both sexes. This raptor is often considered sluggish and retiring, preferring to perch inside leafy canopy when not flying.
Taxonomyedit
The critically endangered Cuban kite (C. wilsonii) is considered by some authors to be a subspecies of the hook-billed kite.
Referencesedit
^BirdLife International (2020). "Chondrohierax uncinatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T22694971A168997614. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22694971A168997614.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^Gill F, D Donsker & P Rasmussen (Eds). 2020. IOC World Bird List (v10.2). doi : 10.14344/IOC.ML.10.2.
^Marshall Cavendish Corporation (2001): Endangered Wildlife and Plants of the World on Google Books
^Ferguson-Lees, J. & Christie, D.A. & Franklin, K. & Mead, D. & Burton, P.. (2001). Raptors of the world. Helm Identification Guides.
^"Birds of the World: Hook-billed jite". 31 August 2014.
^Dunne, Pete (2012). Hawks in flight : the flight identification of North American raptors (2nd ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 301. ISBN978-0-395-70959-7.
hook, billed, kite, hook, billed, kite, chondrohierax, uncinatus, bird, prey, family, accipitridae, which, also, includes, many, other, diurnal, raptors, such, kites, eagles, harriers, occurs, americas, including, grande, valley, texas, united, states, mexico,. The hook billed kite Chondrohierax uncinatus is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites eagles and harriers It occurs in the Americas including the Rio Grande Valley of Texas in the United States Mexico the Caribbean Central America and tropical South America Hook billed kiteHook billed kite in Pasco PeruConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder AccipitriformesFamily AccipitridaeGenus ChondrohieraxSpecies C uncinatusBinomial nameChondrohierax uncinatus Temminck 1822 Subspecies 2 C u uncinatus Temminck 1822 C u mirus Friedmann 1934 Contents 1 Description 2 Ecology 3 Breeding 4 Taxonomy 5 References 6 External linksDescription editIt is a mid sized slender raptor with an invariably striped belly and banded tail but there is probably more individual variation in color and in size of bill than in any other species of diurnal raptor Birds from beneath can look blackish or gray especially males and brown or brick red females variously This renders species identification at times extremely difficult The downcurved hook at the tip of the beak is apparent on perched and low flying birds Weight can range from 215 to 397 g 7 6 to 14 0 oz and length is 38 51 cm 15 20 in 3 4 Ecology editTree snails e g Bulimulus Homolanyx and Polymita are a vital component of the hook billed kite s diet 5 6 The density of their population within a region is proportional to the presence of tree snails It has also been observed that the beak of the hook billed kite has adapted in size and shape between different regions of their territory in response to the species of tree snail available to them 7 However terrestrial snails e g Strophocheilus aquatic snails e g Pomacea frogs salamanders lizards small mammals crabs spiders caterpillars and insects are also taken 8 9 10 It supposedly also hunts other birds but this seems unlikely 11 When it finds a tree snail it holds it with its talon and uses its beak to pry open the shell Breeding editThe nest a flimsy platform of sticks is built by both sexes The hook billed kite lays two to three buff white eggs marked with red brown Incubation is by both sexes Semialtricial young stay in the nest 35 45 days and are fed by both sexes This raptor is often considered sluggish and retiring preferring to perch inside leafy canopy when not flying Taxonomy editThe critically endangered Cuban kite C wilsonii is considered by some authors to be a subspecies of the hook billed kite References edit BirdLife International 2020 Chondrohierax uncinatus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020 e T22694971A168997614 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2020 3 RLTS T22694971A168997614 en Retrieved 11 November 2021 Gill F D Donsker amp P Rasmussen Eds 2020 IOC World Bird List v10 2 doi 10 14344 IOC ML 10 2 Marshall Cavendish Corporation 2001 Endangered Wildlife and Plants of the World on Google Books Grenada Hook Billed Kite bu edu dead link Ferguson Lees J amp Christie D A amp Franklin K amp Mead D amp Burton P 2001 Raptors of the world Helm Identification Guides Birds of the World Hook billed jite 31 August 2014 Dunne Pete 2012 Hawks in flight the flight identification of North American raptors 2nd ed Boston Houghton Mifflin Harcourt p 301 ISBN 978 0 395 70959 7 Hook billed Kite the Peregrine Fund Ferguson Lees J amp Christie D A amp Franklin K amp Mead D amp Burton P 2001 Raptors of the world Helm Identification Guides Chondrohierax uncinatus Hook billed Kite PDF uwi edu Retrieved 2 March 2024 Ferguson Lees J amp Christie D A amp Franklin K amp Mead D amp Burton P 2001 Raptors of the world Helm Identification Guides External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chondrohierax uncinatus nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Chondrohierax uncinatus Stamps usurped for Cuba Honduras includes RangeMap Associacao Mae da lua Hook billed Kite Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hook billed kite amp oldid 1211398441, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
