Red Fox vs White-Tailed Kite

Vulpes vulpes compared with Elanus leucurus

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Red Fox	White-Tailed Kite
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Accipitriformes (Hawks & Eagles)
Family	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)	Accipitridae (Hawks & Eagles)
Genus	Vulpes (Foxes)	Elanus
Species	Vulpes vulpes	Elanus leucurus

Evolutionary Relationship

Red Fox and White-Tailed Kite share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Red Fox

LC — Least Concern

Trend: Stable →

White-Tailed Kite

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Red Fox	White-Tailed Kite
Diet	Omnivore	—
Average Lifespan	5 years	—
Average Length	70 cm	—
Average Weight	6.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Red Fox

Habitat

Typically found in a wide range of habitat types.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Cyprus, Israel), Europe (8 countries), North America (United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (Argentina).

White-Tailed Kite

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, Norway, and Venezuela.

Red Fox

The most widespread wild carnivore on Earth, red foxes have colonized habitats from Arctic tundra to urban environments across the Northern Hemisphere and introduced ranges in Australia. Recognized by their russet coat, white belly, and bushy tail. Highly adaptable omnivores, red foxes eat everything from rabbits and voles to fruit and human refuse. They communicate with over 40 distinct vocalizations.

White-Tailed Kite

White-Tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Widespread and abundant across its range, with stable populations and no immediate conservation concerns.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway