White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) [XC153728]
by Paul Marvin from Hollenbeck Canyon Trail, Jamul, San Diego County, California, United States (call)
White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) [XC636977]
by Linzy L. from Steele Canyon Bridge trail, San Diego County, California, United States (call)
Subspecies
Forms superspecies with Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) and Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris), and all sometimes considered a single species, but morphology and behavioural differences support specific status.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
majusculus Bangs & Penard, TE, 1920 - Western and southern USA (from Oregon to central Florida, occasionally to South Carolina) and northern Mexico. Also most of Central America (race uncertain).
leucurus (Vieillot, 1818) - Panama, south through Amazonia to central Argentina (Mendoza and Buenos Aires) and central Chile (Valdivia).