Black-shouldered Kite
Black-shouldered KiteBlack-shouldered KiteBlack-shouldered KiteBlack-shouldered Kite

Black-shouldered Kite

Elanus axillaris

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
<5% · Rare
overall probability at Blue Mountains National Park
175 Verified records at Blue Mountains National Park
August Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The black-shouldered kite (Elanus axillaris), also known as the Australian black-shouldered kite, is a small raptor found in open habitats throughout Australia. It resembles similar species found in Africa, Eurasia and North America, including the black-winged kite, a species that has in the past also been called "black-shouldered kite". Measuring around 35 cm (14 in) in length, with a wingspan of 80–100 cm (31–39 in), the adult black-shouldered kite has predominantly grey-white plumage and prominent black markings above its red eyes. It gains its name from the black patches on its wings. The primary call is a clear whistle, uttered in flight and while hovering. It can be confused with the related letter-winged kite in Australia, which is distinguished by the striking black markings under its wings. Wikipedia →

<5% of wildlife watchers report a Black-shouldered Kite sighting in Blue Mountains National Park, based on 175 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Blue Mountains National Park

Wedge-tailed Eagle
LC Endemic

Wedge-tailed Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aquila audax

<5% · Rare
White-Bellied Sea-Eagle
LC

White-Bellied Sea-Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliaeetus leucogaster

<5% · Rare
Square-tailed Kite
LC Endemic

Square-tailed Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lophoictinia isura

<5% · Rare
Whistling Kite
LC

Whistling Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliastur sphenurus

<5% · Rare
Pacific Baza
LC

Pacific Baza

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aviceda subcristata

<5% · Rare
Little Eagle
LC Endemic

Little Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hieraaetus morphnoides

<5% · Rare
Swamp Harrier
LC

Swamp Harrier

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Circus approximans

<5% · Rare
Spotted Harrier
LC

Spotted Harrier

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Circus assimilis

Insufficient data
Black Kite
LC

Black Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Milvus migrans

Insufficient data
Osprey
LC

Osprey

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pandion haliaetus

<5% · Rare

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
<5
Mar
5–10
Apr
<5
May
<5
Jun
<5
Jul
5–10
Aug
<5
Sep
<5
Oct
<5
Nov
<5
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Ningaloo Marine Park 🇦🇺 Australia
10–20%
2 Great Otway National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
5–10%
3 Wilsons Promontory National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
5–10%
4 Booderee National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
5–10%
5 Flinders Ranges National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
5–10%
6 Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
5–10%
7 Daintree National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
8 Kosciuszko National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
9 Blue Mountains National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
10 Grampians National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
11 Royal National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
12 Lamington National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
13 Kakadu National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
14 Noosa National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
15 Nitmiluk National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
16 Springbrook National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Black-shouldered Kite in Blue Mountains National Park?

About 3% of wildlife watchers report a Black-shouldered Kite sighting in Blue Mountains National Park, based on 175 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Black-shouldered Kite in Blue Mountains National Park?

August has the highest sighting rate for Black-shouldered Kite in Blue Mountains National Park in our monthly data.

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