Black Kite/Fork-tailed Kite

Description:

These beautiful raptors do look black from a distance however, their "...upper plumage is brown but the head and neck tend to be paler. The patch behind the eye appears darker. The outer flight feathers are black and the feathers have dark cross bars and are mottled at the base. The lower parts of the body are pale brown, becoming lighter towards the chin. The body feathers have dark shafts giving it a streaked appearance. The cere and gape are yellow, but the bill is black (unlike in the yellow-billed kite). The legs are yellow and the claws are black." (Wiki) "In flight, however, its long forked tail and almost unmarked underwing make it unmistakable." (Birdlife Australia)

Habitat:

Perched in a Boab Tree (Adansonia gregorii) at the edge of the Waste Water Wetlands.

Notes:

There is always a large amount of Black Kites at these wetlands and around town. While they can be found in large groups of just them (see pic 2), they are also found in large mixed groups which include Whistling Kites (Haliastur sphenurus). Here is a great article from the abc about the possibility of Black Kites spreading fire in order to flush out prey: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-03/sm... And a blog: https://blogs.crikey.com.au/northern/201...