This is a juvenile. I originally thought this was an Eastern Buzzard (Buteo japonicus) but identified as
Black Kite by its slim bill, dark ear coverts, pale streaked rufous-buff underparts and pale spotted coverts. No
buteo shows this combination of features, particularly pale spotted coverts and pale streaked underparts. Birds
such as this from Central and East Asia, M. m. lineatus are sometimes split under the name Black-eared Kite,
but such split is not well supported by genetics which appears to show it embedded in within the migrans
group. These Black-eared types are paler, with a more contrasting dark cheek patch, bluish cere, shallow tail fork,
and conspicuous white underwing patches This species may be divided into three polytypic groups:
- Black [migrans Group] - Partly migratory; Palearctic to India
- Black-eared [lineatus/formosanus] - Highly migratory; East Asia
- Yellow-billed [aegyptius/parasitus] - Partly migratory; Africa
Canon PowerShot SX60 HS.
References:
DeCandido, R., Subedi, t., Siponen, M., Sutasha, K., Pierce, A., Nualsri, C. & Round, P.D. (2013) Flight
identification of Milvus migrans lineatus 'Black-eared' Kite and Milvus migrans govinda 'Pariah'
Kite in Nepal and Thailand. BirdingASIA 20:32-36
Orta, J., Marks, J.S., Garcia, E.F.J. & Kirwan, G.M. (2019). Black Kite (Milvus migrans). In: del Hoyo,
J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive.
Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/52978
on 26 March 2019).
Rasmussen, P.C. & Anderton, J.C. (2012) Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Vols. 1 and 2. Second Edition.
Smithsonian Institution. Michigan State University & Lynx Edicions, Washington. D.C., Michigan & Barcelona.