Brahminy Kite

Haliastur indus

Description

Haliastur indus is white on the head, neck and chest, the rest is pale brick red, the tips of the primary feathers are black, and the legs are yellow and have broad wings with a short tail and are rounded when stretched. dark brown, with some glossy white stripes, starting to turn grayish-white in the second year and reaching full maturity in the third year.

Population Size

Unknown

Life Span

-

WEIGHT​

-

LENGTH

45 cm

Ca

Carnivore

Di

Diurnal

So

Solitary

Classification

KINGDOM

:

Animalia

PHYLUM

:

Chordata

CLASS

:

Aves

ORDER

:

Accipitriformes

FAMILY

:

Accipitridae

GENUS

:

Haliastur

SPECIES

:

Haliastur indus

Distribution

Haliastur indus is commonly seen in muddy waterfront areas such as mangrove forests, river estuaries and coastlines. This bird can also be found in wetlands such as rice fields and swamps.

Geography

Continent : Asia

Country : India, South China, Southeast Asia, Indonesia (Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java, Bali, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, Papua), Australia. In Indonesia and India, it can be found in rural areas.

Habits and Lifestyle

Haliastur indus is one of the predatory birds that live solitary. Foraging for food on land and above the surface of the water, this bird flies at an altitude of 20 – 50 meters above the surface. Haliastur indus catches its prey above the water surface with its claws, this bird does not dive into the water, it also eats carcasses from food scraps and garbage so this bird is quite common around ports and coastal fish processing areas. Although it often eats carrion, this species is not a passive predator, and is often seen stalking shorebirds and seizing prey from the species Haliaeetus leucogaster. Usually eat its prey while flying or perching.

Lifestyle

Solitary, prey

Biome

Tropical rain forest

Climate Zone

Tropical

Diet and Nutrition

Haliastur indus eat any animal that is still alive or dead. Animals that are commonly preyed upon are small game such as fish, crabs, shellfish, frogs, rodents, reptiles, and even insects.

Diet : Carnivora

Mating Habits

Haliastur indus breed in January-August, and May-July. Lay 2 – 3 eggs which are incubated for 28-35 days. Chicks begin to learn to fly and leave the nest at 40-56 days, and become adults 2 months later.

Reproduction session : January-August, and May-July

Incubation periods: 28-35 days

Independent age : 40-56 days

Baby name : –

Baby carrying : 2 – 3 eggs

Population

Population status : Least Concern (LC)

NE

DD

LC

NT

VU

EN

CR

EW

EX

Population number​

This species has a very wide range, and therefore does not approach a threshold, currently classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.

Ecological niche​

Haliastur indus is a bird of prey, one of which preys on rodents, therefore this species is very helpful for farmers to control rat pests in rice fields.

PHOTO GALLERY

Reference

  1. MacKinnon, J. 1991 . Fields Guide to the Birds Of Java and Bali. Gadjah Mada University Press. Yogyakarta.
  2. Elang Bondol on Wikipedia article
  3. Haliastur indus on The IUCN Red List site