Black-shouldered kite (Elanus caeruleus) in Shivajinagara, India

Photo by ChimeTsetan

Published on Project Noah

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Field Notes

Habitat:

Open dry agricultural fields.

Notes:

Hovers at a spot for few seconds inspecting the field below before moving forward and repeating the same. Perches on high on top of trees or electrical wires.

Reference Links:

Black-shouldered Kite

Species ID Suggestions

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

Ashutosh Dudhatra

+ vote

Black-shouldered kite

Elands caeruleus

Ietermagog

+ vote

Comments (38)

Ashutosh Dudhatra

Black shouldered is an australian species...this ones a black winged...

Joseph CHIEF REDEARTH

Great!

honeydogleo

Creepy red eyes

Caleb Steindel

awesome capture! he looks so formidable...

ChimeTsetan

thank you Carol. :)

Carol Snow Milne 2

Incredible bird and photo! WOW!

ChimeTsetan

thank you Cindy and LuisStevens. :)

LuisStevens

What a great first spotting!

CindyBinghamKeiser

Amazing first spotting!

LisaFP

amazing eyes!

ChimeTsetan

Thank you ulvalactuca77 and Argybee... @Argybee, its so true that wires make a very good perching spot for various birds in India, but at the same time i have seen many birds as well as big fruit bats electrocuted by the same. :(

Mark Ridgway

Beautiful bird. Great shot. In India so many wires = so many perches. :)

ulvalactuca77

Wow, this is a truly exceptionally spotting.

ChimeTsetan

thank you everyone... yes, it does have nice big red eyes vanhevel. :)

vanhevel

what big eyes you have!

Ietermagog

Fantastic pic!

Darwin26

The talons are almost obscene; and the eyes, well there's a gizmo on the Camera for Red-eye :) outstanding shot, thank you,

KarenL

What a gorgeous bird!

AnnieJoyGuilaran

the photo's great. i love it!

ChimeTsetan

Thank you everyone, I am humbled by your kind gestures. I shall keep sharing more pics in future for the sake of joy of sharing of nature's beautiful creatures. thank you peter for making it the spotting of the day.

MatthewFuller

where can we see videos of this bird flying upside down?

LauraMaria

What a fabulous bird... those red eyes are incredible. And I love how his feet look too big for his body!! A beautiful photograph, well deserving of spotting of the day!

Steve A

Great shot, and congrats on spotting of the day! I love these birds. As you see we have the exact same bird here in Australia - http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/6785148

Dangermouse

A great picture, so clear! And congratulations on making Spotting of the Day! :)

Bas

Realy nicve picture!!! very nice close up!!

Noe and Pili

I love this pic! Congratulations for the Spotting of the day!

SaskiaMarloh

Peter, interesting comment on a really nice spotting!!

peter

Spotting of the day! "Black-shouldered kites feed while in flight, females flip upside-down to grab food out of the males' claws." http://facebook.com/projectnoah/posts/226488947396382 http://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/99163918768943105

Saarbrigger

This bird looks into your soul. Wow.

ChimeTsetan

fiery red eyes :)

HeatherMiller

Those eyes are beautiful!

ChimeTsetan

thank you all.

Sally Chuang

beautiful..

StephanieC

Amazing photo!