Hook-billed Kite

Chondrohierax uncinatus

gavilán pico-gancho

Voice: A rapid Northern Flicker-like chatter, “keh,keh,keh,keh,keh,keh.” Also a soft “uueee” call.

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Status: Rare resident along the Rio Grande from Santa Ana NWR to Falcon Dam. Hook-billed Kites are nomadic, moving to areas with high concentrations of tree snails. Occasionally birds are seen in the early morning flying from roosts to feeding areas, and may be seen regularly in an area for days or even weeks at a time. Most often seen from April though October; can be difficult to find in winter months.

Habitat: Riparian corridor along the Rio Grande, where it prefers dense brushy woods.

Best Spots: Santa Ana NWR, Anzalduas County Park, Bentsen SP, Saliñeno, Chapeño, and below Falcon Dam.

Similar Species: With long, banded tails and broad, paddle-shaped wings, Hook-billed Kites offer a distinctive flight profile. When perched, note the large bill and striking face pattern. In flight, Harris’s Hawk and Gray Hawk most closely resemble Hook-billed Kite, but neither species shows barred flight feathers nor the aforementioned combination of field marks.

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Hook-billed Kite - Range Map

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