Scientific name: Elanus caeruleus (Desfontaines, 1789)
Bird group: Birds-of-prey
Field characters. Length 31-35 cm; wingspan 75-83 cm. A small raptor, similar in length to Kestrel but stouter, with long wings and rather short, forked tail, often being raised when perched. Head whitish, upperparts pale blue-grey, black shoulders, and white tail. Upper surface of primaries grey but black below, thus forming bold black patch on underwing. Eyes dark red, bill black, cere yellow. Juvenile with grey-brown upperparts, whitish underparts streaked brownish, and dark greyish upperwing. Usually seen hovering or perched on top of a pole or dead tree.
Voice. During the breeding season utters weak, whistling notes.
Distribution. Rare resident in Portugal and Spain.
Habitat. Occurs on open plains, fringes of riverain woodland, savannah, semi-desert, and dry steppe.
Food. Hunts by swift gliding flight or by hovering and dropping onto prey, taking small mammals, reptiles, birds, and insects.
Eggs. Blotched and smeared, great variation in amount of marking which may be concentrated into a band or cap at the broad end. Ground colour yellowish white/creamy buff. Colour of markings red-brown/brown-red/purple/dark brown. Texture fine granular, not glossy. Shape short subelliptical. Size 39 x 31 mm (35-53 x 29-33), weight 21 g (calculated weight).