Hook-billed Kite

A couple of months ago I met this young fellow: the Hook-billed Kite.

While I was looking for something interesting to pass by near the lodge, I noticed something between the trees. At first I thought it was the Bicoloured Hawk looking for some appetizing snack to grab but when I got close enough to shoot a picture I noticed it was a different raptor.

It was a young Hook-billed Kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus), but unlike the adult version this young one wasn't very secretive and was seen in plain eye sight. It was probably also looking for some tasty snack between the trees (tree snails, insects, caterpillars, small crabs, frogs, lizards or salamanders)

After a while it decided to fly away but before it headed back into the forest, the young Hook-billed Kite gave away this spectacular sight to admire. 

As this young raptor exposed its in-flight pose I knew for sure that it was the Hook-billed Kite. Within a couple of months it will grow into this adult version.

One with a heavy hooked bill and a visible green facial skin with a yellow patch. 

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