White-collared kite

White-collared Kite
Scientific classification
Kingdom Information
Domain	Eukaryota
Kingdom	Animalia
Subkingdom	Bilateria
Branch	Deuterostomia
Phylum Information
Phylum	Chordata
Sub-phylum	Vertebrata
Infraphylum	Gnathostomata
Class Information
Superclass	Tetrapoda
Class	Aves
Sub-class	Neornithes
Infra-class	Neoaves
Order Information
Order	Accipitriformes
Sub-order	Accipitres
Family Information
Superfamily	Accipitroidea
Family	Accipitridae
Sub-family	Perninae
Genus Information
Genus	Leptodon
Species Information
Species	L. forbesi
Synonyms	Odontriorchis forbesi
Population statistics
Population	2,500 (2018 est.)
Conservation status	Endangered

The white-collared, or Forbes' kite (Leptodon forbesi) is a species of bird of prey of the family of Accipitridae, and native to north-eastern Brazil. The bird's scientific name commemorates the British zoologist William Alexander Forbes.

Description

Once considered a possible subspecies of the gray-headed kite (Leptodon cayanensis) and recently declared to be a species in its own right, the white-collared kite also has the unfortunate peculiarity of being one of the most threatened birds of prey in the world. It is a large kite, about 19 inches long and weighs 19.4 to 20.4 ounces. Females are slightly larger than males. It has a blackish color on the back and white on the belly, with the anterior edge of the wing and the coverts white; the underside of the primaries are boldly banded in white and black. There may also be white spots on the shoulder and at the ends of the secondary ones, but these last two characteristics are difficult to detect in wild specimens. The head is variable in color from white to light gray with, as the name implies, a white collar around the neck. The relatively-long tail bears one or two dark bands.

Among the calls emitted by this species are a rapid series of short and high notes that resonate like a kua-kua-kua-kua, as well as a nasal call that sometimes resembles that of a peacock.

Range and habitat

The white-collared kite is found in the states of Pernambuco and Alagoas in Brazil, and generally within a narrow strip of land between the cities of Joao Pessoa in the north, and Salvador to the south; it has recently been sighted in a location further south as well, in the state of Sergipe. It lives in the Atlantic coastal forest, from sea level up to an elevation of about 1,800 feet.

Threats

With a total population estimated at perhaps less than 2,500 adult specimens, combined with an extremely narrow and fragmented range, the white-collared kite is probably the most threatened bird of prey in South America. Within its range uncontrolled deforestation in favor of human urbanization and sugar cane agriculture has drastically reduced forest cover to less than one percent of its original extension, and the small remaining forest fragments are under the constant threat. Moreover, the scarcity of news regarding the the white-collared kite hinders conservation attempts.

The white-collared kite appears in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Threatened Species (CITES), meaning that every international trade in the species must be carefully monitored. Furthermore, a large area in the municipality of Murici, in Alagoas, is protected by law, and organizations such as the Instituto para a Preservação da Mata Atlântica (IPMA) are working to create forest reserves on private land. Urgent implementation of further inspections and research on this species is urgently required, as well as studies to verify its taxonomic status through the use of genetic analyzes. The designation of Murici as a biological reserve and the protection of other forest areas, such as the Mata do Coimbra, in the municipality of Ibateguara, Alagoas, will also be important for the protection of the species.