Mendelsohn, J. M. & Jaksić, F. M. 1989. Hunting behaviour of Blackshouldered Kites in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Australia. Ostrich 60:1-12. We review studies of hunting behaviour and food habits of Blackshouldered Kites Elanus caeruleus in Chile, California, Spain, Morocco, the Ivory Coast, South Africa and Australia. The general sequence, timing of events and patterns of behaviour during hunting were similar throughout the world. Hovering and perch-hunting were the only methods used to search for prey. In California, kites only hovered, while up to 75% of hunting time was spent perched in some areas in South Africa; the proportions of hovering and perch-hunting were apparently intermediate elsewhere. Kites usually hunted for 1–4h/day, depending on hunting methods, food availability and requirements for breeding. In most areas, 40–50% of strikes onto the ground yielded prey. Although prey was often caught after short periods of hunting, hunting success was unpredictable. When hovering, kites caught prey about twice as quickly in North and South America as in Africa. Hovering yielded prey 3–4 times more rapidly than perch-hunting in South Africa; however, prey caught from perches were larger than those obtained by hovering. In most areas 1–3 prey items, each weighing 20–40 g, were eaten daily. Grasslands, low shrub, open woodlands and cultivated areas were favoured for hunting. Analyses of over 19000 prey items snowed that rodents usually comprised over 95% of the diet, and in most areas these consisted of 1–3 species. Birds, lizards and insects were also important components of the diet in Spain and Morocco. Wing loading in different populations is similar, but kites in Chile, California and Australia have relatively longer tails, and longer, narrower wings than those in South Africa, perhaps in relation to their respective use of hovering and perch-hunting. A number of questions requiring further study are considered. © 1989, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
