Square-tailed kite

Appearance

As an adult the square-tailed kite is a medium-sized raptor, with the following features:
⤷  Length: 50–56 cm
⤷  Wingspan: 130–145 cm
⤷  Weight: Male-501g, Female-650g

Distribution

The square-tailed kite is a specialised canopy-dwelling predator, and can be found in a number of different habitats including open and temperate forests, woodlands, scrub, heathland, riverine trees, and savannah. Square-tailed kites can also be found in well-vegetated urban areas such as golf courses and parks. They are seldom found on the ground.

Square-tailed kites are widespread throughout Australia, but are not densely distributed. The birds are solitary, but can be observed in pairs or family units during their breeding seasons. In Eastern NSW, nesting square-tailed kites were found to have home territories of 50m2, with spaces of around 13 km between nesting pairs. Current population estimates from the IUCN Red List indicate a population of between 1000–10,000 individuals, of which 67% are thought to be sexually mature individuals.

Many square-tailed kites migrate annually, but the timing and locations of these migrations are dependent on the home territory of each individual bird, with some birds not migrating at all.

Status

Square-tailed kites are classified on the IUCN Red List as Least Concern. This classification is a result of the species large range, wide distribution, and stable population trends, though the species has previously been classified as Vulnerable and has a range of different classifications at state levels. In New South Wales the species is considered Vulnerable, while it is considered Threatened in Victoria, Endangered in South Australia, and Rare in Queensland.Due to the stable population trend for this species, and its IUCN Red List classification of Least Concern, there are no active conservation efforts specific to this species. The species will benefit from any environmental protections in place across its range that preserve suitable square-tailed kite habitat, as well as revegetation of open or urban areas.

Habitat

The square-tailed kite is a specialised canopy-dwelling predator, and can be found in a number of different habitats including open and temperate forests, woodlands, scrub, heathland, riverine trees, and savannah. Square-tailed kites can also be found in well-vegetated urban areas such as golf courses and parks. They are seldom found on the ground.

Square-tailed kites are widespread throughout Australia, but are not densely distributed. The birds are solitary, but can be observed in pairs or family units during their breeding seasons. In Eastern NSW, nesting square-tailed kites were found to have home territories of 50m2, with spaces of around 13 km between nesting pairs. Current population estimates from the IUCN Red List indicate a population of between 1000–10,000 individuals, of which 67% are thought to be sexually mature individuals.

Many square-tailed kites migrate annually, but the timing and locations of these migrations are dependent on the home territory of each individual bird, with some birds not migrating at all.

Reproduction

As part of the mate selection process, square-tailed kites perform courtship flights. These flights are typically aerobatic in nature and allow the individuals to exhibit their flying skills. The male pursues the female, and the pair perform aerial rolls in which the talons are presented but do not make contact. These flights can be accompanied by vocalisations.

The breeding season of square-tailed kites is specific to the location of the birds. Those in temperate Australia will breed between July and February, while those in more tropical areas will breed around April. When nesting, square-tailed kites prefer large, tall trees in uncleared areas. Both the male and female birds will participate in the building of the nest, or will add to disused nests of other species. Nest shape will either be the typical bowl-shaped nest, or a stick platform, and construction of the nest usually takes around 3 weeks. During the breeding season the female will roost on the nest at night, while the male roosts in a nearby tree, and when young are present both the male and female will roost near the nest. Only one attempt to breed is made each season, with a clutch producing 1-2 white eggs that are a round to oval shape. The incubation period for this species is around 40 days and offspring care is biparental. Incubation of the eggs is primarily done by the female, as the male hunts and brings food to the nest, however males have also be seen incubating eggs. The nestling stage lasts about 8 weeks, with an additional two months of dependence post-fledging. On hatching, offspring is semi-altricial with feathers and vocalisations developed by 3 weeks, post hatching.

Square-tailed kites exhibit pre-copulatory behaviour such as vocalisations and allopreening. The species will also exhibit territorial behaviour during the nesting and incubation periods of their annual cycle, making vocalisations and flying at other birds to move them away from nesting sites. Threat displays for this species include ‘staring’ at other birds with the bill open, and the feathers of the head and neck upright. The feathers of the wings and mantle are also raised, which serves to make the bird look larger and more threatening.

Food

Square-tailed kites hunt for food by soaring slowly above or through the tree canopy, skimming over grass, flying transect lines, or quartering. The diet of square-tailed kites includes avian prey-both smaller birds and eggs, small mammals such as mice, insects, molluscs , and reptiles. Avian prey is typically young birds such as nestlings or juveniles, and square-tailed kites have been observed preying upon a range of other bird species including Crested Pigeons , Yellow-winged Honeyeaters; Eastern Yellow Robin , Rufous Whistler and juvenile Common Koel .

Predators

Land clearing for agricultural use, illegal egg collection, and hunting are the major threats facing this species. Land clearing is a particularly significant threat, with the removal of trees that could be used by the birds for nesting and breeding causing dispersal and competition for the resources that are still available. This is particularly evident around coastal areas where urban or rural development is occurring.