Rufous-thighed Kite vs small tortoiseshell

Harpagus diodon compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Rufous-thighed Kite is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Rufous-thighed Kite	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Aves (Birds)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Accipitriformes (Hawks & Eagles)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Accipitridae (Hawks & Eagles)	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Harpagus	Aglais
Species	Harpagus diodon	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

Rufous-thighed Kite and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Rufous-thighed Kite

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Rufous-thighed Kite	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Rufous-thighed Kite

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, Norway, and Venezuela.

small tortoiseshell

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (41 countries). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

small tortoiseshell

small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List. Close to qualifying as threatened, with populations that may become vulnerable without conservation action.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway