Double-toothed Kite

Identification

The double-toothed kite is a small raptor, measuring 29 to 35 cm long with a wingspan of 60 to 72 cm. Males weigh about 160 to 200 grams while females are slightly heavier at 190 to 230 grams. The species gets its distinctive name from tooth-like notches visible on the edge of its upper bill. Adults display a dark gray head with a striking white throat marked by a dark central stripe. The upperparts are somewhat lighter gray, while the tail is blackish with three grayish bands and a gray tip. The eyes are red, the cere greenish yellow, and the legs and feet yellow. Males and females have similar plumage, though females display richer coloring. The nominate subspecies features a rufous breast and belly with gray and whitish barring, while the fasciatus subspecies has paler, less extensive rufous coloring with heavier barring. Immatures are quite different, showing deep brown upperparts and whitish to buff underparts streaked boldly with brown, making them distinctly recognizable from adults.

Range & Habitat

The double-toothed kite is found from central Mexico through Central America and into much of northern and eastern South America. The nominate subspecies occupies the more southerly range, found on Trinidad and from eastern Colombia east through Venezuela and the Guianas, extending south into Amazonian Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil, with a separate population in southeastern Brazil. Subspecies fasciatus ranges from Mexico through the Caribbean slopes of Central America into both slopes of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, extending into Colombia and Ecuador. One individual has been documented as a vagrant in Texas. The species primarily inhabits the interior of mature subtropical and tropical forests, occurring less frequently at forest edges, young secondary growth, and disturbed areas. Elevation ranges from sea level to at least 1,200 meters in Costa Rica and Colombia, and to 2,100 meters in Ecuador.

Behaviour & Diet

The double-toothed kite is essentially sedentary, though occasional wandering has been recorded. It hunts primarily from forest interior perches, diving to capture prey. Roughly two-thirds of captures occur directly from vegetation, most others in flight, and a small percentage from the ground. The species demonstrates a fascinating hunting strategy by regularly following monkey troops to catch prey flushed by their movement. Its diet is diverse, including insects such as butterflies, cicadas, grasshoppers, katydids, crickets, beetles, wasps, caterpillars, and cockroaches, along with small vertebrates including anoles, geckos, iguanas, bats, birds, rodents, and snakes. While insects dominate in numbers, vertebrates contribute more to overall biomass.

Best Time & Places to See It

The double-toothed kite is relatively common in appropriate forest habitat and maintains an estimated population of at least half a million mature individuals, making it of Least Concern. The breeding season varies across its large range but generally occurs during local spring and early summer. The species will not persist in areas of extensive deforestation, so pristine mature tropical and subtropical forests offer the best opportunities for observation. Travelers exploring primary forest interiors from Mexico through Central America and northern South America, particularly in the Amazon basin and along Caribbean slopes, have the best chances of encountering this species.

Photography Tips

Photographing the double-toothed kite presents distinct challenges and opportunities. The species favors forest interiors where light is limited, requiring fast lenses and higher ISO settings. Look for perched birds in the canopy and mid-story levels where they hunt from concealment. The striking red eyes, pale throat with dark central stripe, and barred underparts provide distinctive field marks for identification. Patience near monkey troops may reward photographers, as the kite's habit of following them offers predictable encounter opportunities. Courtship display flights above the canopy during breeding season provide dynamic shooting opportunities, though these occur seasonally and vary by location. The high-pitched vocalizations—"tsip-tsip-tsip-tsip-wheeeeeoooip"—can help locate birds before they become visible.