KITE (אַיָּה֒, H370, two of the three occurrences of this word are tr. kite KJV; דָּאָה֮, H1798; Lev 11:14, or דַּיָּה, H1901; Deut 14:13; Isa 34:15). Kite, ASV, RSV, VULTURE, KJV. For discussion of Heb. ’ayyah see Buzzard and Falcon. The origin of dayyah is uncertain, but it is generally accepted that this is a hawk or kite; Driver suggests the latter. The use of the word kite in KJV is not surprising, for this was the most familiar bird of prey in Eng. towns and cities of the 15th and 16th centuries, when they were important scavengers. Glede (Deut 14:13 KJV, ASV) (omitted from RSV because Heb. רָאָה׃֙, now regarded as textual error) is obsolete or dialect for kite.

Two species were found in Pal. The Red Kite—once common in England—is partly resident, but numbers also come from N for the winter. The slightly smaller and darker Black Kite is mainly a migrant seen frequently when passing N after wintering in Africa. Kites are distinguished from other birds of prey by their long forked tails. In feeding habits they fall between vultures and hawks, taking a wide range of prey and also being content with carrion. Like all big Raptores they are masters of flight.