Adult Birds:
This kite exhibits highly variable plumage, with several distinct phases. The following are some of the primary phases:
Phase 1: The head is a very dark brown, transitioning to black on the nape. The sides of the head and neck are gray. The chin and throat are also gray, with the base of the feathers being white, often visible. The front of the neck is a lighter black with three black bands: one in the center and two on the sides. The primary wing feathers have gray edges with pale black tips; the inner web of the feather is white with a pale black subterminal band. The underparts are brown with pale black subterminal bands, and some individuals exhibit very distinct black and white barring on the underparts (from the breast to under the tail). The tail has black and brownish-gray horizontal bands.
Phase 2: The breast is rufous-brown, with a relatively broad white stripe in the center of the feathers. The chin and throat are almost entirely white with black feather shafts and some black streaks on the front of the neck. The rest of the underparts are white with broad rufous-brown barring. There are many intermediate forms between this phase and the previous one.
Phase 3: The underparts are entirely rufous, except for bands on the center and sides of the throat.
Juvenile Birds:
The feathers on the back are brown with pale white edges and tips; these markings are particularly broad on the scapulars, wing coverts, and tertiary feathers. The head and neck are often more white than brown. The feathers on the crown are brown with white bases and tips and a black streak down the center. There is a black area in front of the eyes and a narrow black band across the eyes. The underparts are white or pale rufous-brown with narrow dark streaks; the breast and flanks also have some brown barring. The eyes are yellow or yellow-orange, with pale brown eyes in juveniles. The bill is pale black or gray-black. The skin at the base of the bill is grayish-blue. The legs are yellow.
Measurements:
- Wing: 388 – 472 mm
- Tail: 241 – 263 mm
- Tarsus: 44 – 49 mm
- Bill: 30 – 36 mm
Distribution:
This kite is distributed in India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Indochina, and South China.
In Vietnam: This species occurs in Lao Cai (Sapa), Nghe An (Phu Quy), Bien Hoa (Phu Rieng), and Tra Vinh.