Hawks and Eagles (Accipitridae) - HBW 2

Pearl Kite (Gampsonyx swainsonii)

French: Élanion perle German: Perlaar Spanish: Elanio Enano

Taxonomy: Gampsonyx Swainsonii Vigors, 1825, tableland of Bahia, Brazil.
Formerly thought to be a falconid related to Polihierax and Spiziapteryx, but osteological evidence, scutelation and moult pattern convincingly place it near Elanus. Disjunct Nicaraguan population reportedly indistinguishable from South American populations. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • leonae Chubb, 1918 - Nicaragua; N Colombia through Venezuela and Trinidad to Guyana and Surinam, and S to R Amazon.
  • swainsonii Vigors, 1825 - Brazil S of R Amazon to E Peru, E Bolivia, Paraguay and N Argentina.
  • magnus Chubb, 1918 - coastal W Colombia, Ecuador and N Peru.

  • Least Concern
  •      No sound recordings available yet
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