General Description: White-tailed Kites (Elanus leucurus) are small hawks with long gray wings, a big black shoulder patch, a gray back, and white elsewhere, including the long, white tail. From a distance, these kites look all white with a black shoulder.

Taxonomy: Accipitriformes, Accipitridae. Formerly Black-shouldered Kite.

Favored Habitat: Open areas with places to perch. Kites hunt by hovering stationary in the air (like a kite, or "kiting") before diving on a prey item.

Where to Find: White-tailed Kites are not doing well as a species and are uncommon where they are found. Around Las Vegas, White-tailed Kites are rare, but look for them at Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge during summer, and keep an eye out in other areas with riparian habitats.

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