Leptodon forbesi
The White-collared Kite (*Leptodon forbesi*), also known as Forbes's Kite, is a strikingly marked, medium-sized raptor endemic to the highly fragmented Atlantic Forest of northeastern Brazil. Measuring approximately 48-52 cm (19-20.5 inches) in length with a wingspan of about 90-110 cm (35-43 inches), adults exhibit a distinctive grey head, contrasting with a prominent white collar encircling the hindneck. Its back and wings are blackish, while the underparts are largely white, often with fai...
This critically endangered raptor inhabits primary and mature secondary Atlantic Forest, particularly favoring areas with a dense canopy and often in close proximity to watercourses at low to mid-elevations.
Its diet primarily consists of arboreal invertebrates, including large insect larvae and adults (such as those of social wasps), as well as small vertebrates like lizards, snakes, and frogs. It typically forages by perch-hunting or active aerial pursuit within the forest canopy and mid-story.
Due to its extreme rarity and restricted range, the White-collared Kite's behavior remains poorly studied, though it is presumed to share many traits with its close relative, the Grey-headed Kite. It is a diurnal raptor, typically observed singly or in pairs, soaring effortlessly above the forest...
The White-collared Kite is an exceptionally localized and resident species, found exclusively within a highly restricted and fragmented range in the Atlantic Forest of northeastern Brazil. Its known distribution is limited almost entirely to two states: Alagoas and Pernambuco, with the majority o...
Critically Endangered
- The White-collared Kite is considered one of the rarest raptors in the world, with an estimated population of fewer than 250 mature individuals. - It is endemic to a tiny, highly fragmented area of the Atlantic Forest in northeastern Brazil, primarily in the states of Alagoas and Pernambuco. - ...