Black-shouldered Kite

Afrikaans name: Blouvalk

Black-shouldered Kite

Photo © Steven Herbert

Elanus caeruleus

Some sources call this species the Black-winged Kite to avoid confusion with the Black-shouldered Kite found in Australia (I think that the Australians should rename their species).

The black shoulders of this species are very evident when the bird is perched.

The Black-shouldered Kite is often seen hovering over open grassland while it hunts for prey. There are very few birds in South Africa that can actually hover as these birds can. Most need to do it into a strong breeze.

Their prey includes small rodents, insects and lizards.

They lay 3 or 4 eggs in a nest made of twigs.

Photo © Steven Herbert

The Black-shouldered Kite can be found virtually anywhere in South Africa. Although it may be found in a variety of habitats it prefers grassland, cultivated land and fynbos. Beyond South Africa's birders it is widely distributed through to India and parts of Europe.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	130	Elanus caeruleus caeruleus
2nd	130	Elanus caeruleus
3rd	130	Elanus caeruleus
4th	130	Elanus caeruleus
5th	127	Elanus caeruleus
6th	127	Elanus caeruleus
7th	348	Elanus caeruleus

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	130	Black-shouldered Kite
2nd	130	Black-shouldered Kite
3rd	130	Black-shouldered Kite
4th	130	Black-shouldered Kite
5th	127	Blackshouldered Kite
6th	127	Blackshouldered Kite
7th	348	Black-winged Kite

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	130	Witvalkie
2nd	130	Blouvalkie
3rd	130	Blouvalkie
4th	130	Blouvalkie
5th	127	Blouvalk
6th	127	Blouvalk
7th	348	Blouvalk

References and further reading

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 48

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 40

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 48

The Status & Conservation of Birds of Prey in the Transvaal - Author: W. Tarboton and D. Allan - Published: 1984 - Page: 24

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 8

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 51

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 45

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 114

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 150

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 51

Sasol Birds of Prey of Africa and its Islands - Author: Alan and Meg Kemp - Published: 1998 - Page: 194

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 106

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 109

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 113

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 142

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 70

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 88

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 93

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 17

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 174

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 174

Know your Birds of Prey - Author: - Published: 0 - Page: 24

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 39

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 88

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 409

go! - Issue 184 - Author: - Published: 2022 - Page: 114

Field Guide to the West Coast - Author: H. Marshall and B. Mommsen - Published: 1994 - Page: 93

Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 138

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 50

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Published: 2004 - Page: 179

Eagles, Hawks & Falcons of the World - Author: Leslie Brown and Dean Amadon - Published: 1989 - Page: 240

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 29

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Published: 2005 - Page: 15

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 45

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 14

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 78

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 15

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 51

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 40

Birds of Prey of Southern Africa - Author: Peter Steyn - Published: 1985 - Page: 46

Birds of Prey of the World - Author: Friedhelm Weick - Published: 1980 - Page: 70

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 69

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 71

An Introduction to the Birds of Prey of South Africa - Author: D.V. Prout-Jones - Published: 1974 - Page: 90

An Introduction to the Birds of Prey of South Africa - Author: D.V. Prout-Jones - Published: 1974 - Page: 72

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 126

African Birds of Prey - Author: Leslie Brown - Published: 1970 - Page: 52

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 126

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 69

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