Photo: thibaudaronson / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Hook-billed Kite
Chondrohierax uncinatus
Hook-billed Kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus) — Birds of Prey of North America.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Hook-billed Kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Adults weigh 286 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Chondrohierax
- Species uncinatus
Where it lives
Southern Texas to northern Argentina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 286 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Hook-billed Kite is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Hook-billed Kite is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Hook-billed Kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. Its distribution covers NA, MA, SA s Texas to n Argentina.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 286 g, with a wing length of about 28 cm and a tail of around 19.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 9.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Hook-billed Kite?
The Hook-billed Kite is a large bird that weighs around 286 g.
Where does the Hook-billed Kite live?
The Hook-billed Kite is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America with a range covering NA, MA, SA s Texas to n Argentina, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Hook-billed Kite belong to?
The Hook-billed Kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Hook-billed Kite eat?
The Hook-billed Kite is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Hook-billed Kite migrate?
The Hook-billed Kite is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Hook-billed Kite endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Hook-billed Kite make?
1 real field recording of the Hook-billed Kite — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Hook-billed Kite's range?
The Hook-billed Kite has a mapped global range of about 9.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
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Vulnerable
Least Concern
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Endangered
Least Concern
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.