Species:

Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)

Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

Change species:
Main Images:
Length (cm):
31-35
53-89
Wingspan (cm):
75-87
70-90
Weight (gram):
230-235
750-1700
Size group:
Crow-size
Crow-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Small, stout, unmistakable raptor with pale grey plumage. Strikingly broad wings and short tail. Large, round, owl-like head with black "mascara" and short neck. Underside of wing-tips, and upper median and lesser coverts black. Immature birds often with rusty underparts and white fringes to flight feathers and scapulars. Glides with wings raised high like a harrier. Frequent and skilfull hovering.

Sound:

Not very vocal. A soft "Pjuu-harrr". Starting as a mellow, ascending whistle and ending with a harsh screech. Also uttered without the harsh ending, or only a Barn Owl-like screech. Other sounds: rapid series of soft "kekekekekekekekeke" and short whistles.

Alarm call:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

CC

CC-sound:Bernard BOUSQUET, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Male unmistakable. A stunningly colourful bird with a dark, metallic green head with bright red bare sides. Female dark buff with dark spots. Can be mistaken for female Golden Pheasant, or Lady Amherst's Pheasant, but these have barred breast. Both sexes with straight, very long, tapering tails.

Sound:

Diverse repertoire of harsh cackling sounds. Male call can be heard for more than a kilometer away; a very harsh, staccato and explosive "kaa" or "ka-kaa", with last syllable falling in pitch.

Song:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Raptors
Silhouette
Grouse-like
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage
Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file