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Fun Facts
Did You Know?
They hunt by kiting: facing into the wind, fluttering wings rapidly, fanning the tail, and holding position 30 to 80 feet over a field while scanning for rodents. When prey moves, the kite drops feet-first
If This Animal Could Talk...
"Watch closely, respect my space, and let my habitat explain the rest of the story."
White-tailed kites look like someone dressed a gull in a hawk costume and forgot to explain how hawks hunt. Elanus leucurus is pale gray and white with black shoulder patches, red eyes, and a hunting style built around hovering motionless over open grassland.
North Louisiana sits at the northeastern edge of the species’ Louisiana distribution. Seeing one here is a genuine event.
A Few More Facts
How they hunt and forage: Voles and mice dominate the diet, with insects, reptiles, amphibians, and small birds taken occasionally. Field margins and unmowed strips matter because they hold the prey base.
Live birth or eggs? no
When young are born: See the detailed species sections below.
Photo Gallery
What Is the White-Tailed Kite Often Confused With?
White-tailed kites are pale gray and white raptors with black shoulder patches, white tails, red eyes, long pointed wings, and a falcon-like silhouette. From a distance they can look almost gull-like until they start hunting.
Drag the handle left and right to compare White-Tailed Kite side by side with the species it gets mistaken for most.
Open the visual comparison tool
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Accessibility
Accessibility
Vehicle-based observation is the best approach in North Louisiana. A pale raptor hovering motionless over an open field can be detected from the road and watched without leaving the vehicle.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does White-Tailed Kite live in North Louisiana?
Yes. North Louisiana sits at the northeastern edge of the species' Louisiana distribution. North Louisiana is the edge. North Louisiana records remain uncommon and concentrate toward Vernon, Natchitoches, and Rapides parishes
How do you identify White-Tailed Kite?
White-tailed kites are pale gray and white raptors with black shoulder patches, white tails, red eyes, long pointed wings, and a falcon-like silhouette. From a distance they can look almost gull-like until they start hunting
What does White-Tailed Kite eat?
Voles and mice dominate the diet, with insects, reptiles, amphibians, and small birds taken occasionally. Field margins and unmowed strips matter because they hold the prey base
Is White-Tailed Kite dangerous to people?
Outside breeding season, kites may gather in communal roosts where numbers are high, especially in southwestern Louisiana. North Louisiana sightings are usually single birds
