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BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE <br /> Manus caeruleus) <br /> STATUS <br /> Federal: None <br /> State: Fully Protected <br /> Other: CNDDB Special Animal <br /> DESCRIPTION <br /> Black-shouldered kites are small raptors characterized by black shoulder <br /> patches and black leading edges of the inner wings. They have long tails and <br /> long, pointed wings. Adults have white underparts and mostly white tails. <br /> The upperparts are gray. There is no sexual dimorphism in plumage. The adult <br /> wingspan is about 3 1/2 feet and the total body length is a little over 1 foot. <br /> Immatures resemble adults with the exception that the underparts and head <br /> are lightly rufous streaked. The hovering behavior of black-shouldered kites <br /> is unique among North American kites and is quite characteristic of this species <br /> (National Geographic Society, 1987). <br /> DISTRIBUTION <br /> Black-shouldered kites breed in California, Oregon, Texas and south to central <br /> Argentina and Chile (Ehrlich, Dobkin and Wheye, 1988). They are <br /> widespread permanent residents of California and Texas. The black- <br /> shouldered kite is a common and increasing breeder in the Central Valley of <br /> California where the breeding season normally extends from April through <br /> August. <br /> HABITAT PREFERENCES <br /> The breeding habitat of the black-shouldered kite includes grassy foothills, <br /> marshes, riparian woodland, savanna and partially cleared fields (Ehrlich et <br /> al., 1988). The nests are typically placed in dense foliage at the tops of oak, <br /> willow or sycamore trees and are usually located in lowland groves of trees <br /> along a perennial water course(Beedy and Granholm, 1985). <br /> Black-shouldered kites prefer irrigated agricultural fields as foraging habitat <br /> and may also utilize grasslands or savannahs. <br /> In winter,black-shouldered kites often roost communally in stands of trees or <br /> orchards. Groups of over 100 individuals have been recorded at these roosts <br /> (Ehrlich et al., 1988). <br /> FORAGING HABITS <br /> Black-shouldered kites hunt by hovering low in the air and then diving on a <br /> prey item. They eat a wide variety of prey including birds, frogs,lizards, large <br /> insects, snakes and small mammals. In the Central Valley the principal prey <br /> species is the California vole. Both vole and kite populations demonstrate a <br />