Rufous-thighed Kite
A species of Harpagus Kites Scientific name : Harpagus diodon Genus : Harpagus Kites
Rufous-thighed Kite, A species of Harpagus Kites
Botanical name: Harpagus diodon
Genus: Harpagus Kites
Content
Description General Info
Description
The rufous-thighed kite (Harpagus diodon) is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It breeds in Brazil, Paraguay and eastern Bolivia ; it winters north to the Amazon basin, as far north and west as Venezuela and Colombia, and the Guiana Shield. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. 
Size
35 cm
Nest Placement
Tree
Feeding Habits
Rufous-thighed Kite's diet mainly consists of insects (e.g., cicadas, orthopterans), lizards, small birds, and occasionally frogs and a mouse. Rufous-thighed Kite typically hunts from perches, capturing prey on branches in forest canopies, and is known to follow army ant swarms for flushed insects. Its foraging near monkeys suggests opportunistic feeding on monkey-flushed prey, although this behavior is rare compared to its congener.
Habitat
The rufous-thighed Kite primarily dwells in lowland rainforests, favoring environments that range from mesic and open forests to dense primary forests. Unlike its relative H. bidentatus, which adapts to disturbed and secondary growth forests, the rufous-thighed Kite shows a strong preference for undisturbed primary forests, commonly seen soaring above the canopy but hunting within it. Its habitat encompasses broadleaf forests in more humid conditions, particularly in Eastern Brazil and regions extending southwards to Argentina, avoiding urbanized areas except for occasional observations, such as in São Paulo city.
Dite type
Carnivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Scientific Classification
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