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White-Tailed Kite

White-Tailed Kite line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

White-Tailed Kite full color illustration (click image to enlarge)

Artist's notes:

The White-Tailed Kite was completed on 2.08.10. I remember seeing my first White-Tailed Kite near the 680 Freeway north of Fremont. I was used to birds of prey being darker in tone and color. I was astonished to see this white and gray bird hunting for prey, hovering over a small patch of brush. They remain one of my favorite raptors. The drawing is based on a photo by Bob Barber.

Information about the White-Tailed Kite:

The White-Tailed Kite is a raptor found in the the western parts of North American and in isolated area of South America. The animal was almost extinct in the 1930's and 1940's due to shooting and egg collecting. They have recovered completely now and are considered common. These birds feed primarily on rodents and on rare occasions other birds or even reptiles or amphibians. They prefer lowland scrub or grasslands for hunting and raising their young. They're fairly small birds of prey, weighing about 10 ounces with a wingspan of three feet and a body length of about sixteen inches.