Hook-billed Kite

Chondrohierax uncinatus

Explore this bird

Identification

41 cm (16") Rare. Texas; lower Rio Grande Valley.

Long hooked thick heavy bill.

Male: Gray with barred underparts.

Female: Brown back with rusty collar; rusty barred underparts.

Details in the field

1 photo

Watch and learn

2 videos

Hook-billed Kite by Charlie Vogt

Credit: Andean Birding

Hook billed Kite

Credit: Sarapiquitours

Bird Advisor Identification rules 3 variants 5 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

1 rule

Rule 1 11 criteria confidence 1

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Rounded · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light band across the middle · Light band at the tip · Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail) · Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:377-hook-billed-kite:1:1 Source: 377 Hook-billed Kite, row 1

2 rules

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 1

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light band across the middle · Light band at the tip · Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:377-hook-billed-kite:2:1 Source: 377 Hook-billed Kite, row 2

Rule 2 12 criteria confidence 1

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light band across the middle · Light band at the tip · Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:377-hook-billed-kite:4:2 Source: 377 Hook-billed Kite, row 4

2 rules

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 1

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light band across the middle · Light band at the tip · Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Yellow · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:377-hook-billed-kite:3:1 Source: 377 Hook-billed Kite, row 3

Rule 2 12 criteria confidence 1

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What SHAPE was the TAIL ?: Square or slightly notched at the end · Rounded at the end · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Light band across the middle · Light band at the tip · Dark and light bands across it · Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Spotted or mottled · Barred crosswise (from side to side) · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States

result:377-hook-billed-kite:4:1 Source: 377 Hook-billed Kite, row 4