Juvenile © Lars Petersson | My World of Bird Photography
Adult © Jorge Dangel
Adult © Claudia Brasileiro
Adult © Mike Andersen
+ 2
Adult © Natalia Allenspach

Plumbeous Kite Ictinia plumbea

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Identification

POWERED BY MERLIN

Slender, long-winged summer migrant to tropical lowlands. Found in humid forest and adjacent semiopen areas with tall trees. Hunts in flight, soaring lazily on long, rather pointed wings and snatches insects with its talons. Dark gray overall (plumbeous means lead-colored) with a slightly paler head. On perched birds, the tips of the wings project well beyond the short tail. In flight, note the orange patches on the underside of the wingtips. Immature has whitish underparts with dark streaking.

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