Elanus
Do you think they are related to owls? There is a chance that owls might be the forefathers of these kites
The four species of these cute whitish-grey kites have black markings on their feathers. These markings help to tell one species apart from another; otherwise, they look alike.
There is no doubt that they look and act like owls, which makes biologists believe there must be some connection between them. Like owls, they can also brood more than one chick in a year and don’t need a particular time to reproduce (only seen in a few diurnal raptors). They might look sweet while quietly perching at the top of a branch, but it is a horrific sight once they open their mouth.
Species in this genus
White-collared kite
Brazilian beauty – victim of deforestation reported as an endangered species