Black-shouldered Kite vs Laysan Duck

Elanus caeruleus compared with Anas laysanensis

Key Differences

Black-shouldered Kite is Least Concern while Laysan Duck is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Black-shouldered Kite	Laysan Duck
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Aves (Birds)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Accipitriformes (Hawks & Eagles)	Anseriformes (Anseriformes)
Family	Accipitridae (Hawks & Eagles)	Anatidae
Genus	Elanus	Anas
Species	Elanus caeruleus	Anas laysanensis

Evolutionary Relationship

Black-shouldered Kite and Laysan Duck share a common ancestor at the Class level: Aves. (Birds)

View Class: Aves

Conservation Status

Black-shouldered Kite

LC — Least Concern

Laysan Duck

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Black-shouldered Kite	Laysan Duck
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Black-shouldered Kite

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Colombia, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Laysan Duck

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and Mediterranean forests and woodlands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, France, Netherlands, Norway, and United Kingdom. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Black-shouldered Kite

The Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus) is a species in the genus Elanus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Laysan Duck

Laysan Duck (Anas laysanensis) is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List. Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild due to severe population decline and habitat loss.