Adult Bird:
The forehead and the area in front of the eyes are white. This white color on the forehead gradually transitions to a pale gray on the crown, nape, back, flanks, and upper tail. The area in front of the eyes and a stripe above the eye are black. The lesser and median wing coverts are black. The greater wing coverts are ash gray. The primary feathers are gray, becoming blackish-gray at the feather tips and along the inner vane. The feather shafts are black-brown. The secondary and tertiary feathers resemble the greater wing coverts, with small black markings along the wing edges. The outer tail feathers are white; the outer vane of each feather gradually transitions to gray towards the inner feathers, and the central tail feathers are entirely gray. The belly, sides of the head, neck, axillaries, and underwing coverts are white. In some individuals, the breast and flanks are slightly tinged with gray.
Juvenile Bird:
The head feathers are brown, edged with white. The dorsal area is gray-brown, with each feather having white barring. The wing coverts are black and gray and also edged with white. The feather shafts on the breast have narrow black streaks; the flanks are tinged with reddish-brown and gray; the wing feathers and tail feathers have white tips. The eyes are red, or a yellowish-orange (in juveniles). The bill is black, with pale yellow skin at the base. The legs are yellow.
Measurements:
- Wing (male): 259 – 268 mm
- Wing (female): 262 – 283 mm
- Tail: 116 – 119 mm
- Tarsus: 30 – 34 mm
- Bill: 20 – 21 mm
Distribution:
The Black Kite is distributed in Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Indochina, and Southern China.
Vietnam: This species is found in Ha Tay, Hoa Binh, Nghe An, Lam Dong provinces, and is quite common in Southern Vietnam.