Black-shouldered Kite - Distribution and Habitat

Distribution and Habitat

Although reported from almost all parts of Australia, they are most common in the relatively fertile south-east and south-west corners of the mainland, and in south-east Queensland. They are rare in the deep desert and appear to be only accidental visitors to northern Tasmania and the Torres Strait islands. As the species has an extremely large range and the population is increasing, it has been listed as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened species. Although they are rare vagrants on the islands of Bass Strait and in northern Tasmania, on the Australian mainland they vary from uncommon to common, appearing almost anywhere following rain or the movement of flood waters. In southwestern Australia, they are now one of the most commonly recorded raptors in the wheatbelt.

They are sedentary, or nomadic following food sources. Their numbers fluctuate during drought and floods, and can be irruptive in response to sudden increases in mouse populations. The most distant banding recovery was from South Australia to eastern New South Wales, a distance of 1000 km (600 mi).

Although found in timbered country, they are mainly birds of the grasslands. They prefer open areas with scattered clumps of trees, including tree-lined watercourses through open country. In urban areas they are found on the edge of towns on wasteland or irregularly mown areas. They also hunt over coastal dunes and drier marshland, and farmland. Black-shouldered Kites are most often seen hunting over grassy roadside verges.

European occupation of Australia has, on the whole, benefited Black-shouldered Kites through land clearing and irrigation for agriculture and grain harvesting and storage practices which provide suitable conditions for much larger numbers of mice. According to raptor researcher Dr Stephen Debus, this species did not suffer from eggshell thinning during the period of DDT use in Australia, though he believes it is possible that secondary poisoning may occur from rodenticides used during mouse plagues or from pesticides used during locust plagues. Populations in areas with high sheep and rabbit numbers may decline, as these animals compact the soil and reduce the available habitat for mice.