Range expansion of the Black-winged Kite, Elanus caeruleus , in Palestine

AbstractThe Black-winged Kite, Elanus caeruleus, is an opportunistic breeding species that is a resident in the Middle East. This study investigates its distribution patterns and breeding behaviour in Palestine based on observations spanning from 2014 to 2022. The species was first recdorded in Palestine in September 2014. Up until 2018, its presence was recorded at only a few specific locations, primarily in the northern Jordan Valley along the Jordanian border, Al Mukata’ valley in Jenin, and the western regions of the central and northern West Bank. However, a noticeable population increase and a remarkable expansion in its geographical range have been observed since then. The first documented breeding observation took place in 2019, and we identified 25 breeding sites. Clutch size varied between two to three eggs per nest, with an average of 2.71±0.49 (n=7). Additionally, instances of double-brooding were noted. Given the opportunistic breeding tendencies, the availability of suitable habitats, and potential food resources, we anticipate a continued expansion of the Black-winged Kite’s distribution in Palestine.Keywords: Distributionmultiple broodingLevantMiddle East AcknowledgementsWe appreciate the contribution of the regional experts Dr. Fares Khoury and Dr Michel Sawan who have provided information and data on the status of the species in their country. We would like to express our appreciation to Cornell Lab of Ornithology for providing us with data from their citizen science database (eBird). We also would like to thank Mr. Khaled Abuasbah, Dr. Emad Dawwas, Mr. Rashed Marie, Mr. Basem Mosa, Ms. Mandy Sirdah, Ms. Lara Sirdah, and Mr. Saed Shomaly for their contribution to this study by providing their personal observation and notes. Finally, we appreciate the efforts of the anonymous reviewers and their valuable comments and suggestions, that helped improve the manuscript.Disclosure StatementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.Additional informationFundingWe are grateful for the Environmental Education Center (EEC/ELCJHL) for supporting the field work and providing the necessary resources and equipment.