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

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

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

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

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

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 150

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

KwaZulu-Natal - A celebration of biodiversity - Author: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife - Published: 2002 - Page: 172

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Birds of the Kruger and other National Parks - Volume 1 - Author: National Parks Board - Published: 1974 - Page: 14

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

Birds of Africa south of the Sahara - Author: Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan - Published: 2003 - Page: 72

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds