Photo: Louis Agassiz Fuertes / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Scissor-tailed Kite
Chelictinia riocourii
Scissor-tailed Kite (Chelictinia riocourii) — Birds of Prey of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Scissor-tailed Kite (Chelictinia riocourii) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 110 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Chelictinia
- Species riocourii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 110 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 Scissor-tailed Kite is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Scissor-tailed Kite is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Scissor-tailed Kite (Chelictinia riocourii) is a species of bird in the Accipitridae family, part of the order Accipitriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Senegal and Gambia to Somalia and ne Kenya.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 110 g, with a wing length of about 24 cm and a tail of around 19.2 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 5.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Scissor-tailed Kite?
The Scissor-tailed Kite is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 110 g.
Where does the Scissor-tailed Kite live?
The Scissor-tailed Kite is found across Africa with a range covering AF Senegal and Gambia to Somalia and ne Kenya, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Scissor-tailed Kite belong to?
The Scissor-tailed Kite (Chelictinia riocourii) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Scissor-tailed Kite eat?
The Scissor-tailed Kite is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Scissor-tailed Kite migrate?
The Scissor-tailed Kite is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Scissor-tailed Kite endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Scissor-tailed Kite make?
1 real field recording of the Scissor-tailed 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 Scissor-tailed Kite's range?
The Scissor-tailed Kite has a mapped global range of about 5.4 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.