Gray-headed Kite
Leptodon cayanensis
Scarce hawk of lowland tropical forest. Perches mainly in the canopy, at times giving a long, laughing call. In flight, the wingbeats are loose and floppy. When soaring the wings are held rather level. Adult is distinctive, with a soft gray head, dark eyes (no yellow in the face, unlike most hawks), and rather small grayish feet. Immature has several plumage types, all with 2–3 broad, pale-gray tail bands. One type has a dark brown head and upperparts and whitish underparts with dark streaking; another has a white head and underparts with a small dark cap.
Identification
The gray-headed kite is 46–53 cm in length and weighs 410-605 g. The adult has a grey head, black upperparts, white underparts, and a black tail with two or three white bars. The bill is blue and the legs grey. The flight is a deliberate flap-flap-glide.<p>Immature birds have three colour morphs; the light phase is similar to the adult, but has a white head and neck, with a black crown and eyestripe, black bill and yellow legs, closely resembling the Black-and-white hawk-eagle (Spizaetus melanoleucus). The rufous phase has a reddish neck with a white throat, black malar stripes and a black, long crest closely resembling the adult Ornate hawk-eagle (Spizaetus ornatus). The dark phase has a blackish head, neck and upper parts, and dark-streaked buff underparts closely resembling the Black hawk-eagle (Spizaetus tyrannus). The sophistication in the mimicry of these juveniles is remarkable and has only been described a few times.
Taxonomy
Genus: Leptodon; Family: Accipitridae; Order: Accipitriformes.
- Scientific name
- Leptodon cayanensis
- Authority
- (Latham, 1790)
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Genus
- Leptodon
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Greater Whitethroat
Curruca communis
Found in open, scrubby habitats from coastal heaths, open woodlands, and low hedges to bramble thickets on waste ground. Rather retiring, like most warblers, but jerky climbing display flight often draws attention. Also gives its burbling, buzzing song from a perch. Often gives a rising, sparrow-like “weet, weet.” Plumage brownish overall with bright rusty wings; grayer head has narrow whitish eyering and sets off white throat, which often looks a little puffy.
Sunda Owlet
Taenioptynx sylvaticus
A tiny brown owl of humid forest in mountains and foothills, with brown upperparts and white underparts with long, broad rufous-brown streaks. Tooting song is variable, though the most common pattern is “doot doot-doot doot do-do-do,” repeated every 10-30 seconds. Often sings during the day, and can be mistaken for a barbet, but the exact pattern of toots is unlike any barbet. Visually, could be mistaken for a scops-owl, but separated by the distinctive voice, the broad brown streaks below, and the lack of ear tufts.
Olive-backed Woodcreeper
Xiphorhynchus triangularis
Medium-sized woodcreeper found in Andean foothills and subtropical zone from Venezuela to Bolivia. Brownish-olive overall with warmer rufous wings and tail. Note heavy buff spotting on head and underparts, and noticeable buffy eyering and eyebrow. Fairly straight bill. Most similar to Spotted Woodcreeper, which is only found on west slope of Andes. Note more extensive crown spotting on Olive-backed. Otherwise distinctive in range. Like other woodcreepers, usually seen singly or in pairs, often accompanying a mixed-species flock. Hitches up tree trunks and large limbs. Typically found within forest or adjacent edges or second growth.
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