Spot the Difference : Indian Spotted Eagle & Black Kite
It is easy to get confused between eagles and black kites because both birds have some similar physical features such as a hooked beak, sharp talons, and broad wingspan. It also doesn’t help that both birds of prey are commonly found in the same habitats and regions, which can also contributes to the error.
However, there are several differences between the two species that can help distinguish them.
- Size
Eagles are generally larger and have a heavier body structure, while black kites are smaller and have a more slender build. Eagles also tend to have a more prominent brow ridge and a larger head in proportion to their body size.
- Beak
Eagles typically have a flat or slightly concave beak, while black kites have a more curved beak.
- Tail
An eagle has a fan-shaped tail, whereas a kite has a V-shaped tail
- Flight Pattern
The flight pattern of the two species is distinct, with eagles typically soaring high in the sky with slow, deliberate flaps, while black kites tend to glide and circle more frequently.
- Hunting
Eagles are skilled hunters and hunt for their food in true sense of the word. They eat small mammals and birds as well as reptiles. They catch prey without landing and fly away with it. Whereas Kites are more scavengers than hunters. They eat snails, snakes, dead carcasses and might even prefer snatching food from other birds than hunting themselves.
- Number of species
Among eagles, there is a fewer number of species which is divided into land eagles and sea eagles. Whereas there are close to 20-30 species of kites.
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