There is one record of a Square-tailed Kite in COG’s Area of Interest that I am about to write up. The bird was seen a long time ago by Richard Allen, Chris Davey, Paul Mahoney and myself in Tallaganda State Forest. On the same trip we also recorded a Sooty Owl.
I am very familiar with Square-tailed Kites from working along the NSW and Queensland coasts and have seen two nests in forest east of Bombala. They have always been in forested areas. In 2011 on a trip to Iron Range several experienced local observers travelling with me also recorded one in Currawinya National Park in sw Queensland, again in forested country. What worries me with Jude’s bird is that it was recorded doing circles around grassy and shrubby areas, typical of harriers; Square-tailed Kites are birds of the canopy but obviously they must fly over open areas to get from A to B. As I also pointed out when I replied to Jude the white tail could be a trick of the light as I have seen many adult Spotted Harriers showing very pale, almost white, in some lighting situations. Jude however is certain the bird had a white tail. Adult Spotted Harriers have a strongly marked black and white banded tail while Square-tailed Kites are pale under the tail and darker above.
I suppose the upshot of all this is that unless the bird is seen again, we will never know. Square-tailed Kites could be moving back “north” at this time of year so anything is possible.
Cheers,
Mark
From: Philip Veerman [
Sent: Tuesday, 21 January 2014 11:37 AM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] AOI Currawang raptor ID
I have given Jude some suggestions on this.
As far as I know we have no prior records of Square-tailed Kite in our area. That does not mean it can't come here. They have been occurring as a regular summer migrant to the NSW SE coast (although only very few of them). For years I have been expecting that it is inevitable that one would come to our area.
Square-tailed Kite is well worth considering as a possibility and seems to be high on the list. The behaviour certainly is consistent with Square-tailed Kite (though not exclusive of others). Of the large, brown raptors, none have a "clearly white tail" but it rules out Black Kite and probably can fit a not great view of a Square-tailed Kite but does not diagnostically any better rule out male Swamp Harrier, Little Eagle, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Whistling Kite, Pacific Baza or a big Brown Falcon, they all have pale tails with variously darker parts, though in most the tail is not square. The Square-tailed Kite has a noticeably long tail, as distinct from the short square tail of a Little Eagle and is very much lighter in its movements, sort of floats like a big butterfly.
-----Original Message-----
From: jude hopwood
Sent: Tuesday, 21 January 2014 7:39 AM
To: COG
Subject: [canberrabirds] AOI Currawang raptor ID
Evan Beaver has identified this bird as a Square-tailed Kite confirmed by all the images I found on the net, especially BirdLife Australia whose images and descriptions confirmed the sighting.
* very long, upswept paddle-shaped wings
* Searching for prey from the air, where they are highly agile at low levels
* They specialise in hunting among trees, twisting between and below tree-tops, and they take most prey from the outer foliage of the canopy, but do not enter the canopy
In the brief time I observed the bird several times I thought it would perch as it was circling shrubs and small trees, allowing me time for a closer look, but each time it moved on.
I'd never heard of nor read about this bird until sighting it. Wow! As John Layton described in his poetic report on the Ibis yesterday, way ahead of watching TV!
