Whistling Kite

SCI Name:  Haliastur sphenurus
Protonym:  Milvus sphenurus Nouv.Dict.Hist.Nat. 20 p.564
Taxonomy:  Accipitriformes / Accipitridae / Haliastur
Taxonomy Code:  whikit1
Type Locality:  Australia = New South Wales.
Author:  Vieillot
Publish Year:  1818
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

HALIASTUR
(Accipitridae; Ϯ Brahminy Kite H. indus) Gr. ἁλι- hali- sea-  < ἁλς hals, ἁλος halos  sea; L. astur, asturis  hawk  < Gr. αστεριας asterias  hawk  < αστηρ astēr, αστερος asteros  star; "Genus Haliastur, (3) MIHI ...  (3) Whether this group, of which F. Pondecerianus Auct. is a type, belongs to this subfam. [Accipitrinæ], or to the Pandions (Ospreys), seems a matter of doubt. I have substituted the title of Haliastur for that of Haliæëtus, given it by Mr. Swainson, as the latter already designates a group of the Eagles. To it will belong the Haliæëtus leucosternus and Haliæëtus canorus of "Gould's Syn. of the Birds of Australia"" (Selby 1840); "Haliastur Selby, Cat. Gen. Subgen. Types Aves, 1840, p. 2 (note), p. 3. Type, by original designation, Hal. pondicerianus = Falco indus Boddaert." (Peters, 1931, I, p. 204).
Var. Haliastui.
Synon. Dentiger, Halinertus, Ictiniastur, Ictinoaetus, Milvaquila, Milvulus.

sphenurus
Gr. σφην sphēn, σφηνος sphēnos  wedge; -ουρος -ouros  -tailed  < ουρα oura  tail.
● ex “Cinereous Eagle” of Latham 1801 (Haliastur).

Sphenurus
(syn. Treron Ϯ Sumatran Green Pigeon T. oxyurus) Gr. σφην sphēn, σφηνος sphēnos  wedge; ουρα oura  tail; "Sphenurus, Sw.  Habit of Vinago; but the tail long and graduated; the two middle feathers greatly narrowed, and projecting considerably beyond the rest.  Fissirostral type.   S. semitorquatus. Pl. Enl. 240." (Swainson 1837); "Sphenurus Swainson, Classif. Bds., 2, 1837, p. 348. Type, by monotypy, S. semitorquatus (Pl. enl. 240) = Columba oxyura Temminck." (Peters 1937, III, 11).