White-Tailed Kite Photo Gallery by Garrett Lau at pbase.com

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Garrett Lau | profile | all galleries >> Nature >> birds >> Birds by Type >> Birds of Prey >> White-Tailed Kite

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White-Tailed Kite

White-Tailed Kites in California

The most recent photos are now at the beginning.

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White-Tailed Kite fledgling	White-Tailed Kite fledgling	White-Tailed Kite fledgling	White-Tailed Kite with Mouse
White-Tailed Kite parent and child	White-Tailed Kite with Mouse	White-Tailed Kite	White-Tailed Kite
White-Tailed Kite	White-Tailed Kite	White-Tailed Kite	White-Tailed Kite
White-Tailed Kite	White-Tailed Kites	White-Tailed Kite	White-Tailed Kites

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Kathy		17-Sep-2016 16:13
Dublin Ca, west hills, last year we had 2, beautiful. This year 4, and with the addition a LOT of loud growling screeching. Pretty constant for about 3 hours in am and again late afternoon untill sundown. Enjoyed them at first, but now quite disturbing. Hard to enjoy backyard with all the racket.

Garrett Lau		15-Jul-2016 05:32
Thanks for the comments. I don't know why they call.

Kelly Penning		13-Jul-2016 22:47
I believe we have one in our Oak tree this year! In the past couple of years I have seen 2 or 3 in my neighbors oak. We live on a hill and I love to see them flying over the open field below. When do they make nests? I think 2 years ago we had 3 young ones that seemed to be practicing flying from the oaks to some old almond trees. I'm about 6 miles east of Oakdale, CA. Whomever is in our tree is being very noisy! Is he calling for a mate?

Tony		25-May-2016 03:30
a pair at the castle in Ione

Audrey		07-Mar-2015 01:15
We have a pair looking to nest in our 50' tall eucalyptus trees. They're so beautiful. There are a lot of fields out here. I hope they stay!! We haven't seen them in our area (West Tracy), since August 2010. If they do, I will try to get some good pictures.

Judi Gaz		18-Apr-2014 18:15
On 16 April, I saw a pair of unfamiliar falcons/hawks/? circling over lake-marsh-forest where I was working. They were quite vocal as they flew back and forth over the area. I noted dark wing tips, a dark splotch on each wing more proximal to body, a suggestion of tan to lower chest and abdomen and a more narrow wing silhouette than I usually see on predatory birds in this NW Georgia region. Subsequent searches of all my bird field guides and the internet have tentatively suggested the two might have been white tailed kites even though this is not the usual location for them. Any ideas? JG

Donna Clegg		04-Jan-2014 22:57
Our kite pair was here all spring, in Del Cerro, near Lake Murray, in San Diego, CA. Disappeared in October. Yesterday, I was watching some crows dive bombing a bird and discovered it was my kites. One came to the rescue of the other. Don't know where they have been, but was soooo happy to see them back. Watched for them all day, but no luck... Have really enjoyed their acrobatics!

Garrett Lau		27-Oct-2013 07:52
Males and females look the same.

Elizabeth		26-Oct-2013 12:14
10/26/13 Elizabeth White-tailed kite was on a tree on the slope in my back yard all afternoon yesterday in Mission Viejo. Saw is hovering several times. Crows tried to chase it away but it just moved to another location on slope. Does anyone know how to differentiate males from females? Am thrilled it is here. Hopefully it will be here today also.

Sharon		01-Jun-2013 22:59
5/31/13. We have a nesting pair in a pine tree the past two months here In East Lake. ( chula vista ,Ca). The pair fought with mobs of our very annoying resident crows. For past two weeks we are hearing the nestlings screeching ( similar to parrots) when the adults bring food. The crows keep trying to run them off but so far our kites are defending their turf. Gooooooooo Kites :)

Allen		14-May-2013 20:59
We watched a pair building a nest in the top of a pine tree here in Laguna Woods, Ca mid-February. We were confident they had egg(s) and maybe hatchling(s) but were not sure until yesterday when I could confirm movement in the nest and accounted for both adults elsewhere. Today I had my first good look at the baby. It seems to have a yellowish underside and a mottled topside. We have been amazed that the adults seem cavalier and are not around much of the time in spite of many crows in the area.

Carey		18-Feb-2013 06:33
I saw one of these hunting in Coyote Hills, which is part of Fremont California. It's hovering for prey was neat to watch.

Chris F		07-Sep-2012 04:10
For a couple of weeks we've had at least 3 of these hanging out in a very large pine tree right next to our home in Mill Valley, CA. They're amazing to watch, but they're right above our house so that extremely loud screech gets a little old.

Adrian		09-Aug-2012 03:53
I have seen 4 flying together this past week, morning and dusk, here in Pilot Hill, CA. Your photos helped me determine that they are for sure white-tailed kites. Do they have an extrememly high pitched screech?

Rob Waters		06-Aug-2012 15:28
I live in Greer Ranch, located in the foothills of Murrieta, Southwest Riverside County, Ca. For the last week I have been watching this bird hunting in our community until it was chased off by a Red-Tailed Hawk yesterday.

Patsy Brachais		06-Aug-2012 04:18
Thanks for all the info, I have been watching a white tailed Kite, which I thought was an owl for some time but have now identified it. Only once saw two together otherwise always alone. I live in Butte Valley, Ca which is six miles below Paradise, we are in an area of mostly pasture land but an occasional pine can be seen though they are not tall. This area may be further north and more inland than they have been seen, however, I didn't read all pages.

Angela Kolak		22-Jul-2012 02:44
I currently have what I think is a white tailed Kite in my backyard. It is noisy at night - is that typical? I'm in Antelope, CA. He's been in a large pine tree in my neighbor's yard for the past two months, and is beautiful.

Jeff		20-Jun-2012 23:37
Oops. "pine" tree.

Jeff		20-Jun-2012 23:36
Have a pair nesting in a line tree in Antioch. Was not sure what they were until I found this site. Managed to get some good photos of two together on the top of a tree. Beautiful birds.

Guest		15-Jun-2012 08:53
I saw two of them in Feb 2012, & again in the 1st week of June 2012. This time, there were three of them. They seem to be a pair with lg. fledgling. The crows are always trying to chase them off. They stuck around here every day for about a week. from: Suzette D. in Femont,Calif.

Steve J		10-Apr-2012 18:08
Have seen a nesting pair just west of Fairfield. Same location the past two weeks

Gene Ray		31-Mar-2012 23:09
While in my backyard in Union City today saw a kite being harassed by 2 crows

Becky		21-Mar-2012 11:10
Golfing today at teal bend, north sacto along the sacto river. Saw four very happy white tails on the course. They were at times hovering, very verbal. It is quite a spectacular location for viewing many raptors.

Carlee		18-Mar-2012 19:32
Saw a White-tailed kite today in my backyard here in Cameron Park CA....seen several from time to time here though...absolutely my favorite bird in the world..they are so ethereal to me...they almost don't look to be real.....Does anyone have a picture of what their nest may look like?

Garrett Lau		25-Jan-2012 09:51
The normal range of the White-tailed Kite extends from the California coast to the Central Valley. Roseville is at the edge of this range. There are no other white birds of prey in California.

graham		24-Jan-2012 08:18
i believe i saw a white tailed kite today in roseville, ca. am i crazy? it was beautiful! are there any other birds of prey i could be mistaking it for in that area?

Laurie		17-Jan-2012 01:19
There was a white tailed kite here just east of Santa Rosa, in Skyhawk today. It roosted in an oak tree, swooshed around, and occasionally did that beautiful hover.

Guest		08-Jan-2012 17:11
White-Tailed Kite identified in the hills above Calaveras Reservoire in San Jose. First time to see this type of bird in our area. Today was being chased by a Red-Tailed Hawk.

Ingrid		23-Nov-2011 21:17
We've noticed a record number of White-Tailed Kites this year -- last week about 30-40 of them soared silently overhead for several minutes. Usually, one or two have been "browsing" over our yard (intrigued by our parrot). We're in the south SF bay area, by foothills and reservoirs.

San Diego		16-Sep-2011 00:10
I noticed five kites over Rose Canyon beginning last week. For ten years the canyon has had red tail hawks and crows. The crows are highly maneuverable and pester the red tail hawks. Kites are highly maneuverable and eat crows. We now have no crows and no red tail hawks. I am pleased with the transition.

Garrett Lau		13-Sep-2011 05:58
Thanks for all the comments. I finally got another photo of one today.

Guest		18-Aug-2011 20:19
We`ve had two of them in a couple different pine trees in our neighborhood for over a year now. Just found out what they so thanks for the pictures. They are doing a lot of screeching. Not sure what thats all about but fasinating to watch. Todd from Concord CA

JEANETTE		15-Jul-2011 04:37
WE HAVE A WHITE TAILED KITE IN OUR 100 FT HIGH CEDAR DEODORA. LOOKS LIKE SHE IS BUILDING A NEST. WE, TOO, THOUGHT IT WAS A WHITE OWL AT FIRST BUT THESE GREAT PICTURES CONFIRM THE SPECIES. WE LIVE IN WOODLAND, CA (NEAR SACRAMENTO)AND LIVE ON 3/4 ACRE IN TOWN WITH LOTS OF TREES AND MICE ON THE PROPERTY.

Barbara		17-Jun-2011 02:59
Just spent 20 minutes admiring one of these beautiful birds perching on top of our 50+ foot Deodar Cedar in our backyard in Pleasanton,Ca - binoculars were available , we got a show, full wing spread and sweet sounds! My husband and I didn't know what kind of bird it was but knew it was a bird of prey- grateful for the pictures to confirm the type. Happy Bird watching!!!

Doris		06-May-2011 22:01
I've seen one of these beautiful birds in Moss Beach, CA every day for the past week. Thanks for the photos. I didn't know what it was. Thought it was an owl at first. It sits on a fence by the Half Moon Bay Airport, on Airport Street. Very shy--when I try to get close in my car to take a picture it flies to a different spot on the fence. I saw it catch a rodent today.

Cynthia		28-Apr-2011 02:42
Yesterday a white-tailed kite showed up here in Dublin, CA in the hills. It is beautiful to watch out my back yard when it hovers high and drops for the prey into an open field. Took a walk and saw that it is nesting in the top of a tall tree several blocks away. Saw it carrying a stick to the tree. Should there be a mate here too? Never seen it here before.

Terry		19-Mar-2011 22:39
Have been wondering what kind of birds of prey these birds are. There are 2 of them that have been around for over a year now. Whenever a larger hawk comes around they dive bomb it and screech until it finally leaves. The way they can hover and then lift the wings up when diving down at whatever they are after is fun to watch. I live in Cottonwood Calif.

Guest		14-Feb-2011 01:23
Just spotted one in the tree across the street. I live in Menlo Park not very far from the Bay. We see them all the time at Shoreline Park in Mountain View, but this is the first time I've seen one near my house.

Steve		15-Jan-2011 05:10
They do this when they are not mating. This is the time of the year that they just all get along. Wait until spring and they will pair off.

Garrett Lau		05-Jan-2011 04:20
Interesting. Yes, it could be related to mating. This is about the right time.

monomial		04-Jan-2011 21:45
Starting about a month ago, we have up to 18 White Tailed Kites each evening in the trees in our yard 1/4 acre yard. They look to be mostly adults as they are pure white underneath with light grey on their backs. Now they are showing up in the morning also (8 today). Is this assembly possible mating related? we have been in this house which has a large pond for 10 years and this is the first time we've seen them. Usually we have Coopers or No. Goshawks come regurlary to bath and hunt but have not seen them since these Kites have shown up. Is such an assembly common for these raptors? Thanks.

Guest		03-Jan-2011 22:00
hi there! just found out what these beautiful birds were from your website . we have seen severel in fairfield, ca.

Guest		27-Dec-2010 02:52
I live at the Southwestern edge of Mt. Diablo near Danville CA and have seen two of these beautiful birds (male and female I believe)twice this year circling over nearby fields and resting in my neighbor's trees.

Leah		20-Oct-2010 19:46
just spotted three of these guys while walking at a small park near the water in Richmond. They left the top of the tree as I approached but than flew about taking turns landing on the fence and flying in place over the marshy area. Your photos helped me to identify them, thank you!

Garrett Lau		01-Oct-2010 03:40
Thanks for all the messages. 15 to 20, wow!

debbi packard		01-Oct-2010 00:35
We saw two white tailed kite in the spring now we have about 15 to 20 that hang around see them almost everyday it is really something I live in Wilton CA.

Audrey		04-Sep-2010 22:47
We had a couple nest high in one of our Eucalyptus trees a few years ago. Then I saw them again for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Last night at 7:30 I counted 12, yes TWELVE coming home to roost in that same tree. Tonight I'm taking my cameras out and try to get some pictures. They are so beautiful!! I truly feel blessed. We planted these trees 30 years ago! We live in west Tracy, Ca.

Guest		03-Aug-2010 02:57
We had 1 at Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park last week. we see them fairly often during the warmer months.

Guest		24-Jun-2010 16:44
Garrett and readers....PLEASE go to the Audubon Sea & Sage website to post your White Tailed Kite sightings as they are doing a scientific survey on these birds and need to know where they have been sighted for their study. Your help would be appreciate so very much!

Guest		24-Jun-2010 16:40
I have been looking for White Tailed Kites for the longest time in my area and can't find them! I would love to see them and just don't know where to go! Where is the best place to find them in Southern California? I live in the Long Beach area. You are SO LUCKY to have captured these images. Anyone can reply to this message at blee020@ca.rr.com and please stop by my website at bjleeimagequest.com

Garrett Lau		27-Apr-2010 23:58
Thanks for all the updates.

carol		27-Apr-2010 21:46
I live in Vallejo and have had a nesting pair of White-Tailed Kites for three years now. They always choose pine trees. They're so elegant to watch.

Dannielle		20-Mar-2010 00:40
There is a pair of these beautiful birds in my neighborhood that we just noticed today. They've been chirping to each other all day and seem to have picked a tall cedar tree to build their nest. It will be an interesting spring watching them with our spy scopes. We live in Tracy and this is the first time I've seen them in town.

Patrick		10-Mar-2010 03:00
Recently had a kite feed on the morning doves that come for the birdfood. He was so docile after feeding, my wife and I watched him for quite some time. as he walked on the concrete and perched at different locations in the yard

Guest		23-Aug-2009 02:55
At first I thought these were kestrels, but got to thinking they were too pale. From your pictures, I was able to put a name to them! I live in San Ramon, too, and you can often see these kites perched on the telephone wires along the Iron Horse trail.

MsMello		03-Jun-2009 21:43
I am so glad I found this site and your beautiful photos. We had been thinking these beautiful featherballs were owls for YEARS. Recently, I began to think otherwise and really took an interest in what they were. Thanks to your photos, and one I managed to take last night with my video camera, I now know different. We have several of them in our neighborhood. They seem to really enjoy hanging out on the tip tops of our redwood trees. I go out and watch them nightly. We live in San Ramon, CA.

Karri		26-May-2009 17:33
Thank you for helping us identify the birds living in the top of the pine trees a couple of houses away. They have a nest with two, possibly three babies and we have watched them for a couple of months now. Today, we were watching the babies in the nest when I was able to take a look at the parents more closely and discover they are NOT owls! The short beaks and big eyes made us think that they are. Remarkable birds! Beautiful and graceful. Great pictures you have posted. We live in Martinez, CA about a mile or so from the McNabney Marsh. From our backyard we have a great view of the nest as well as the parents as they fly back and forth feeding and caring for the chicks.

Garrett Lau		27-Feb-2009 19:23
Thanks for all the notes about kite sightings. I am glad that my photos could help with identification.

Jim		27-Feb-2009 18:18
We have a pair that I'm pretty sure are nesting along the American River Parkway in Sacramento south of Hagen Park. I ride my bike to work and home 4 days a week, and have seen them numerous times since the first of the new year. Had been having a bit of difficulty with the ID, cause I never got a good look until yesterday afternoon...saw both hovering over the grassy fields next to the bike trail. Underside of the wings appears nearly all white. This morning I saw one perched at the very top of an old snaggy oak, and finally got a good look at the grayish wings. Beautiful birds!!!

Guest		03-Feb-2009 21:39
I have two in my tree, they are always guarding it and I saw them both yesterday chase a hawk into a tree where he hid for about an hour...amazing, I think their eggs are in a nest and they were protecting them....

Barb		27-Dec-2008 03:14
Thank you! I believe you have helped me identify two beautiful birds I saw hovering near a very large tree in the Marina del Rey, CA area late this afternoon. In posted comments, Angus Taylor described the identical motions I witnessed. It was amazing how gracefully they managed the winds we were having. I'm wondering what they were focusing on that was of such interest in the tree?

Guest		25-Oct-2008 17:26
Beautiful photos. I have been taking kite photos at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California during the past few months. If you would like to see several, let me know. nrdyer@comcast.net I took a sequence today of a kite downing a mouse.

Nina		14-Oct-2008 03:59
Thanks so much for your fantastic photos. I was able to confirm that I spotted a white tailed kite today hunting in the fields near Montara Mountain.

Jay Weiner		28-Apr-2008 00:20
Thanks for the beautiful gallery of white-tailed kites! I was thrilled to watch a pair start to build a nest in the tall pine tree next door to me in San Pablo, a dense East Bay neighborhood, but not far from open grassy areas to the west, past the railroad tracks. For about two weeks I watched in wonder as they soared around, hovered, perched, mated on the treetops, fought off crows, ate prey. I named them Bonny and Clyde. They abandoned the attempt after the property owner spent a day with a chainsaw and mower in the yard right under the pine. I will always treasure the experience. Thanks again, Jay

Garrett Lau		26-Nov-2007 05:20
Thanks for all the comments. I am pleasantly surprised by how many people have used my photos to identify kites that they've seen. I am using a Canon 100-400 lens.

Jay Kennedy		26-Nov-2007 03:37
I finally was able to identify the birds that reside in the tree next door thanks to your great pictures, we know have a family of four to six, that started with just the two a couple of years ago. They are fasinating to watch when hovering for prey. Great photos, what kind of lens are you using?

Peter Kruse		12-Oct-2007 03:09
Beautiful photos. Thank you for helping me ID the pair of birds I have been watch for a few months. I work mostly outdoors at a winery just above SF Bay. The kites are out hunting in a very specific spot everyday. You can't help but to stop and watch.

Guest		11-Oct-2007 13:45
Nice captures Garrett! Congratulations.... Ron Green/www.avianpix.com

Guest		09-Oct-2007 16:38
Great shots and wonderful gallery.

Angus Taylor		05-Aug-2007 23:22
My wife an I each evening watch a pair of White Tailed Kites as they hover behind our home in Covenant Hills ,Ladera Ranch. usually about 4-5 pm, their bodies sometimes will be almost motionless in the air as they hover for 30 seconds a time,then they move another 10 feet along the embankment. Really a superb site to see 30 to 40 feet away. Thank you for the photos great for identification purposes.

mike hollarman		25-Jul-2007 20:36
I have been watching two of of these birds but I did not know what they were named. There are now 4 of them flying around in a vineyard that I work with in San Luis Obispo county. They are hard to get very close to when they are setting in the oak trees. My birds seem to have more black under and on the wingtips.

Terry McDonald		18-Jun-2007 23:58
Mr. Lau, My husband and I have been watching a pair of white-tailed kites with their 3 now-fledged juvenile offspring. We're here in Pleasanton and the pair nested in one of the pine trees that line a narrow greenbelt park area a block from our house. We walk there often and have also observed nesting pairs in previous years. Your photos are such exquisite pleasure - thanks! Terry & Ken McDonald

Bradley A TePaske		26-Nov-2006 04:13
Mr. Lau, I just spent the day following the Santa Clara RIver from its estuary south of Ventura on up to Santa Clarita. I saw no less than 5 White-Tailed Kites and watched one of them on a hover/hunt high up in Sespe Condor Sanctuary here in Southern California. It is little wonder that you (apparently) couldn't put the camera down! They're so beautiful, graceful ... absolutely enchanting creatures! Your wonderful photos provide me a terrific flash back on my excursion. Love seeing such a series. May you enjoy many more magic moments with your camera! Best regards, Brad TePaske Pacific Palilsades

nicolebouglouan		15-Aug-2006 20:14
Wonderful action shots of this beautiful Kite! I love raptors, thank you! Nicole

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