Bird Album
Hook-billed Kite
Chondrohierax uncinatus (Temminck, 1822)
38–42 cmLength286 gWeight
The hook-billed kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus), is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles, and harriers.
Busiest months: October–November · Most records: Ecuador, Belize, Mexico
Where and when it's recorded
Busiest months: October–November · Most records: Ecuador, Belize, Mexico
Hook-billed Kite has been recorded at 631 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 23 countries and regions.
Records by month Northern Hemisphere
Where it's recorded most
- Cattle Landing – waterfrontBelize2,387 records
- Bentsen-Rio Grande Val. SP WBC (Mission)United States1,337 records
- Chichicaxtle – Observatorio de Aves Rapaces Dr. Mario A. RamosMexico1,068 records
More places
- Hotel BienvenidoMexico1,037 records
- Rio Silanche Bird SanctuaryEcuador1,009 records
- Estación Biológica La Selva-OTSCosta Rica730 records
- Santa Ana NWRUnited States677 records
- Refugio Paz de las AvesEcuador645 records
- Santa Margarita Ranch (LTC 079)United States466 records
- Rio SilancheEcuador327 records
Countries and regions with the most records
eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.
About
The hook-billed kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus), is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles, and harriers. It occurs in the Americas, including the Rio Grande Valley of Texas in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and tropical South America.
Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia
Questions
How big is the Hook-billed Kite?
The Hook-billed Kite is about 38–42 cm long and weighs around 286 g.
Where does the Hook-billed Kite live?
Its breeding range: North America, Middle America, South America: southern Texas to northern Argentina. It is most often recorded in Ecuador, Belize and Mexico.
When is the best time to see the Hook-billed Kite?
At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in October and November (Northern Hemisphere).
Is the Hook-billed Kite endangered?
The IUCN Red List classifies the Hook-billed Kite as Least Concern.
What does the Hook-billed Kite eat?
Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.
What family is the Hook-billed Kite in?
It belongs to the family Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae), order Accipitriformes.
At a glance
- Length
- 38–42 cm
- Weight
- 286 g
- Habitat
- Forest
- Diet
- Insects & other invertebrates
- Lifestyle
- Perches in trees
- Migration
- Partial migrant
- Conservation
- Least Concern
More measurements
- Wing
- 280 mm
- Tail
- 196 mm
- Bill
- 36 mm
- Tarsus
- 32 mm
Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.
Range
North America, Middle America, South America: southern Texas to northern Argentina
Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2
Classification
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Family
- Kites, Hawks, Eagles Accipitridae
- Genus
- Chondrohierax
Other birds in the genus Chondrohierax
Cuban KiteChondrohierax wilsonii
Pearl KiteGampsonyx swainsonii
Scissor-tailed KiteChelictinia riocourii
White-tailed KiteElanus leucurus
Black-winged KiteElanus caeruleus
Black-shouldered KiteElanus axillaris
Letter-winged KiteElanus scriptus
African Harrier-HawkPolyboroides typus
Madagascar Harrier-HawkPolyboroides radiatus
Palm-nut VultureGypohierax angolensis
Download illustration
Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Christoph Moning. ↗
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