Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jquental/ / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Pearl Kite
Gampsonyx swainsonii
Pearl Kite (Gampsonyx swainsonii) — Birds of Prey of South America.
Found across 16 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Pearl Kite (Gampsonyx swainsonii) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in South America. Adults weigh 92.9 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 Gampsonyx
- Species swainsonii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 92.9 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Pearl Kite preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Pearl Kite is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Pearl Kite (Gampsonyx swainsonii) is a species of bird in the Accipitridae family, part of the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA Nicaragua through Amazonia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 92.9 g, with a wing length of about 14.8 cm and a tail of around 9.8 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 10.3 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Pearl Kite?
The Pearl Kite is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 92.9 g.
Where does the Pearl Kite live?
The Pearl Kite is found across South America with a range covering SA Nicaragua through Amazonia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Pearl Kite belong to?
The Pearl Kite (Gampsonyx swainsonii) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Pearl Kite eat?
The Pearl Kite preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Pearl Kite migrate?
The Pearl Kite is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Pearl 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 Pearl Kite make?
1 real field recording of the Pearl Kite — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Pearl Kite's range?
The Pearl Kite has a mapped global range of about 10.3 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.
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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.