White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus)
 
Status in the Checklist Area - (2) Accidental
     
 
Information

A small and slender raptor that is common in Oregon and California to our south but is very rare in B.C. A few individuals overshoot their typical range and wind up in B.C. usually in the spring months. These birds often move around and seldom remain in the same area for too long which often makes relocating them difficult. Hunts small mammals by often hovering over fields and then dropping onto its prey. Currently, all of our records are from the month of April.

Similar species:
An adult male Northern Harrier has similar plumage and can be surprisingly light coloured especially from below.

Sources:
Ehrlich, Dobkin and Wheye, (1988)
     
Noteworthy Data
 
Date
Location
Source(s)
Comments
April 1, 2007 Adams Road, Chilliwack C. Gadsden 2007
D. Beeke 2007 		Observed on Adams Road on two different days, April 1 and 15, 2007 (C. Gadsden 2007). The bird was uncooperative as despite several attempts by others to see it, it went undetected until May 3, 2007, where presumedly the same bird was seen hunting in Rosedale near the intersection of Castleman and Chapman Roads (D. Beeke 2007).
April, 2004 Highway #1, Abbotsford D. Driediger 2004 Observed flying near the highway and noted pale colouring and pointed wings. The following day, perched on a pole in the median feeding. Unfortunately a hypotethical record as observer not able to get clear views.
April 21, 1999 Kilby, Harrison Mills M. Brown 1999  
 
Photographs
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
       
       
 
Audio and Video    
None available
 

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