Adult Bird:
A white spot is present in front of the eyes on each side of the forehead. The head, neck, and upper back are pale grayish-brown with narrow dark streaks along the feather shafts. The nape displays white markings due to the exposed feather bases. The remaining dorsal surface is somewhat rufous with dark feather shafts. The tail exhibits barring and a white tip. The tail is brown with two dark bands and a third, fainter band at the base.
The wing edges are white. The greater coverts are pale rufous-brown with pale white edges and an indistinct brown band near the tips. The flight feathers are pale brownish-black, slightly paler with black barring on the inner webs. The chin and throat are white with a central and two lateral pale dark bands. The breast is pale brown with several white streaks and bars. The abdomen and thighs are white with brown barring. The undertail coverts are white. The underwings have few brown bars.
Juvenile Bird:
Overall, the juvenile bird is darker and browner. The dorsal surface is brown, with darker feather shafts, and each feather is edged with a lighter color. The feathers on the crown have pale rufous edges and a white band. The wing coverts have white tips and some very pale rufous barring. The ventral surface is white tinged with rufous. The breast has rufous-brown streaks, and the abdomen and flanks have similar colored barring. The tail has 4-5 dark bands. The eyes are bright yellow. The beak is grayish-yellow, with a pale black tip, and the base of the beak and gape are orange-yellow. The legs are dull yellow.
Measurements:
Wing (male): 295 – 335 mm, (female): 300 – 345 mm; Tail: 190 – 193 mm; Tarsus: 55 – 59 mm; Beak: 27 – 30 mm.
Distribution:
This kite species is distributed in Southeast Asia, from Myanmar to Japan, the Philippines, and New Guinea.
In Vietnam, the Indian kite has been captured in Lao Cai, Quang Tri, Kontum, and Phu Quoc provinces.