Peregrine Falcon Steals Prey from White-tailed Kites

Abstract

Kleptoparasitism, one individual stealing a prey item from another, is common among and between many raptor species (Newton 2010). The White-tailed Kite ( Elanus leucurus ) is an occasional victim of kleptoparasitism (Rigolosi and Hayes 2018) with published observations of prey theft by the Aplomado Falcon ( Falco femoralis ; Brown et al. 2003, Raimilla et al. 2015), Northern Harrier ( Circus hudsonius ; Temeles 1990), Chimango Caracara ( Milvago chimango ; Baladrón and Pretelli 2013), a variety of hawks (Dunk and Cooper 1994), and the American Crow ( Corvus brachyrhynchos ; Dixon et al. 1957). Baladrón and Pretelli (2013) documented one case of a kite being kleptoparasitised by a Monk Parakeet ( Myiopsitta monachus ). Rigolosi and Hayes (2018) reported an apparently unsuccessful attempt at kleptoparasitism of a White-tailed Kite by an immature Peregrine Falcon ( Falco peregrinus ); however, there are no published reports of successful kleptoparasitism involving this species pair. On 9 and 10 September 2021 near Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County, California, Phenicie and Zamek observed numerous instances of an adult Peregrine Falcon stealing voles (probably Microtus californicus ) from White-tailed Kites. Phenicie obtained several photos of this behavior on 10 September (Figure 1 and this issue’s outside back cover). This location is a large grassy meadow on a bluff along the Pacific coast and is frequented by many raptor species, including the kite, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk ( Buteo jamaicensis ( Tyto