White-tailed Kite

The White-tailed Kite is a graceful raptor found across open landscapes of Patagonia. Medium-sized and slender, it is easily recognized by its white plumage, black shoulder patches, and long, square-tipped white tail. Its buoyant, hovering flight is a common sight as it searches for prey over grasslands and agricultural fields. Unlike many other raptors, it often hunts during the day, especially at dawn and dusk. The species is generally solitary or seen in pairs, but small communal roosts may form outside the breeding season. Its diet consists mainly of small mammals, particularly rodents, making it an important natural pest controller. The White-tailed Kite builds stick nests in trees or shrubs, where both parents care for the young. Its adaptability to human-altered landscapes has helped it persist in areas where other raptors have declined.