Scientific name: Haliastur indus
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae

Also called Red-backed Sea-eagle

The Brahminy Kite is an attractive bird, with chestnut plumage except for the white head and breast and black wing tips. The juveniles are browner, but can be distinguished from both the resident and migratory races of Black Kite in Asia by the paler appearance, shorter wings and rounded tail.
Beak of Haliastur showing the characteristic circular nostril

This species nests in trees, often close to water. It feeds as a scavenger, particularly on dead fish and crabs, especially in wetlands and marshland.

Known as Elang Bondol in Indonesia, the Brahminy Kite is the official mascot of Jakarta, and considered as the contemporary representation of the mythical Garuda. In Malaysia, the island of Langkawi is named after the bird ('kawi' denoting an ochre-like stone used to decorate pottery, and a reference to the bird's primary plumage colour). In Bangladesh it is known as Shonkho Chil.

Click for more information on this species at Wikipedia
Press the back button on the browser to return to this page

Click for a map of the bird's location
Press the back button on the browser to return to this page