BRAHMINY KITE (Haliastur indus)
also known as the Red-backed
Sea-eagle in Australia, is a
medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae,
which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers.
They are found in the Indian
subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Australia.
They are found mainly on the coast and in inland wetlands where they feed on
dead fish and other prey. Adults have a reddish brown plumage and a contrasting
white head and breast which makes them easy to distinguish from other birds of
prey.
This kite is a familiar sight
in the skies of Sri Lanka,Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and southeast Asia and as far south as New South Wales, Australia, through which region it is widespread and resident. They perform
seasonal movements associated with rainfall in some parts of their range.
They are mainly seen in the plains but can sometimes occur above
5000 feet in the Himalayas.
t is primarily a scavenger, feeding mainly on
dead fish and crabs, especially in wetlands and marshland but occasionally hunts live prey such
as hares and bats. They may also
indulge in kleptoparasitism and attempt to steal
prey from other birds.
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