Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, Rebecca Zarza, José Luis Cartes and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
PEARL KITE Gampsonyx swainsonii
The kestrel-sized Pearl Kite looks more like a Falcon than a Kite. With his pure white underparts and lead-grey upperparts he is a handsome bird, hunting from a perch and dropping down onto reptile prey. Despite his small size he has no fear of heights, and often soars so high on thermals that he disappears from view.
FIGURE 1 - Adult dorsal view with prey, location unknown (Arne Lesterhuis undated).
FIGURE 2 - Adult, Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Hemme Batjes November 2005).
FIGURE 3 - Adult head detail of individual that collided with the Guyra Paraguay office window, Asunción, Departamento Central (José Luis Cartes May 2004).
FIGURE 4 - Same individual dorsal view (José Luis Cartes May 2004).
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