White-tailed kites are medium-sized raptors found in open habitats across much of North and South America. They are best known for their aerial hunting techniques, in which they hover in place while scanning for prey on the ground below. Though they mainly prey on small mammals like voles and mice, their diet can be quite varied depending on location and availability of different prey sources. This raises the question – do white-tailed kites ever eat fish as part of their diet?
The diet of white-tailed kites
White-tailed kites are opportunistic predators that will eat a wide range of prey depending on what is abundant in their local habitat. Their main prey tends to be small mammals such as voles, mice, rats, rabbits, and squirrels. They also frequently prey on insects like grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, and caterpillars. Beyond mammals and insects, they have also been known to eat reptiles like lizards and snakes, amphibians like frogs, and even birds. Fish, however, are not a typical part of their diet.
Foraging behaviors of white-tailed kites
The foraging style of white-tailed kites is suited to hunting prey on open ground. They soar slowly or hover 10-30 meters above the ground while scanning for movement indicating potential prey. Once targeted, they will dive down swiftly to snatch their prey with their talons. This aerial hunting technique allows them to effectively hunt in grasslands, marshes, fields, and other open habitats. It is not as well-suited for hunting fish, which would require diving into water.
Additionally, white-tailed kites have relatively small talons compared to other raptors of their size. Their talons are best adapted for grasping and killing small mammals and birds, not fish which could easily slip from their grip. The kites also lack the waterproofing in their feathers needed for diving efficiently into water.
Habitats of white-tailed kites
White-tailed kites can occupy diverse habitats but tend to prefer open habitats such as grasslands, meadows, marshes, agricultural fields and lightly wooded areas. Access to low vegetation and sparse shrub cover for nesting and perching seems to be a common requirement across their range.
They are found in both inland and coastal areas but do not typically occupy dense forest or urban regions. Notably, they are generally not found in habitats centered on water features, like lakes, rivers, or wetlands. This further reduces their access and exposure to fish as a potential food source.
Evidence of fish eating in white-tailed kites
Despite the above considerations, there is some evidence that white-tailed kites may opportunistically eat fish on rare occasions:
Anecdotal reports
There are occasional anecdotal reports of white-tailed kites seen consuming fish. For example, one report described a kite eating a dead fish along the shoreline of a reservoir. Another reported a kite catching a live fish in very shallow water. However, these cases appear to be rare events when a vulnerable fish came across the kite’s path rather than a common dietary choice.
Analysis of pellets and remains
A study that analyzed the contents of white-tailed kite pellets and prey remains from nests in southern Texas found that a very small percentage (around 3%) contained fish scales and bones. This suggests the kites may have opportunistically captured fish on rare occasions but that mammals made up the vast majority of their diet.
Association with water sources
Though generally preferring open habitats, some research shows white-tailed kites can adapt to nesting and hunting near certain water sources under the right conditions. One study in California’s Imperial Valley found kites preferentially foraging near agricultural drainage ditches, canals, and reservoirs. Their proximity to water may provide rare chances to capture fish.
Why fish are an abnormal prey item
Despite a handful of anecdotal reports and trace evidence, the consensus among researchers is that fish make up an extremely small portion of the white-tailed kite diet if they eat them at all. A few factors help explain why fish are not normally considered prey for these raptors:
Hunting technique not suited for capturing fish
As covered earlier, the kites’ aerial hunting technique of spotting prey from a hovering height of 10-30 meters is not well-suited for spying fish under water. The kites also lack the plumage and talon adaptations that allow raptors like ospreys to effectively dive and grasp fish.
Prefer habitats away from water sources
Though they can occasionally live near water, white-tailed kites generally occupy drier open habitats like meadows, grasslands, and agricultural areas. Their scarcity near major water bodies reduces encounters with potential fish prey.
Lack of fish bones in studied diets
Scientific analysis of white-tailed kite stomach contents and nest remains reveals mammal and insect prey dominates, with extremely rare occurrences of fish bones or scales. Their observed diets align with their hunting ecology and habitat preferences.
Comparisons to other raptors
Looking at other birds of prey provides useful context for the white-tailed kites’ relationship with fish as prey.
Osprey
Ospreys are a fish-eating specialist, with fish making up 99% of their diet. They exhibit a range of adaptations for their piscivorous lifestyle including reversible outer toes, barbed pads, and slick feathers that shed water easily. Their technique of diving feet-first to snatch fish with their large curved talons makes them adept fishermen. This contrasts sharply with the white-tailed kites’ terrestrial-focused adaptations.
Bald Eagle
Bald eagles feed opportunistically on a variety of prey, with fish a major component depending on habitat. Their larger talons and sharp hooks allow them to scoop fish from the water surface while wading or flying by. White-tailed kites lack the leg strength and grip these large powerful raptors can exert.
Red-Shouldered Hawk
The red-shouldered hawk overlaps extensively with the white-tailed kite’s range and habitat preferences in North America. They too focus mainly on small mammals, birds, and amphibians as prey. While red-shouldered hawks may occasionally eat reptiles, reports of them eating fish are also scarce due to the similar limitations faced by white-tailed kites.
Conclusion
In summary, while white-tailed kites are adaptable predators, fish do not appear to be a meaningful part of their diet. Their morphology and hunting style is tailored for capturing small terrestrial prey, not aquatic animals. The kites generally occupy habitats away from major water bodies where encounters with fish would be rare in the first place. While they may very occasionally snatch an easy fish meal from a shallow water source, the consensus is that fish make up an extremely small fraction of their diet, if they eat them at all. Other raptors possess adaptations like large talons and waterproof plumage specially suited for piscivory lacking in the white-tailed kite. So while not impossible, the odds of spotting a kite feasting on fish are extremely long. Their preferences for furry voles plucked from grassy fields remains the rule when it comes to white-tailed kite dining.
References
Dunk, J. R. (1995). White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus). In A. Poole (Ed.), The Birds of North America. Ithaca, NY: Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Erichsen, A. L., Smallwood, J. A., Commandatore, M. A., Larrieu, L., Morrison, M. L., & Fry, D. M. (1996). White-tailed Kite movement and nesting patterns in an agricultural landscape. In D. Bird, D. Varland, & J. Negro (Eds.), Raptors in Human Landscapes (pp. 165–176). Academic Press.
Hawbecker, A. C. (1942). Food and feeding habits of the white-tailed kite. The Condor, 44(5), 267–269.
Kuehn, M. J., Stier, S. C., & Reinert, S. E. (2021). Opportunist in optimal habitat: Foraging associations of White-tailed Kites (Elanus leucurus) in intensive agriculture. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 133(2), 329-337.
Stendell, R. C. (1972). The occurrence, food habits, and nesting strategy of White-tailed Kites in relation to a fluctuating vole population. University of California, Berkeley, CA.
