Aviceda leuphotes - Members of the genus Aviceda are rather small to medium-sized kites (usually called Cuckoo-Falcons or Bazas). Their wings quite long and pointed, the tail is of moderate length and not forked. The edge of the upper mandible has two clearly indicated tooth-like protrusions. They have short, stout legs and feet with well developed talons. Two or three feathers of the nape are elongated as a crest, which is very pronounced in the Black Baza (Aviceda leuphotes ).

Range - The Black Baza breeds in the lower Himalayas from Nepal to Szechwan and southern China. It typically spends the winter in southern India, Sri Lanka, and parts of Malaysia and Thailand.
Avoiding open country and rainforest, its preferred habitat is drier deciduous forest.

Diet - The diet of the Black Baza consists mostly of insects, especially beetles, but also small ground mammals, bats, small birds, small lizards, and tree frogs. Prey is taken on the ground, in trees, and in flight. Insects are caught in short sailing flights and eaten at once on returning to the perch. It is not able to kill anything very large.

Voice - Not the world's quietest bird. It frequently makes a quivering plaintive scream, or a shrill gull-like mew, similar to the softer notes of the Black Kite (Milvus migrans). This call is made both in flight and on a perch. There is also a harsh squawk - often very noisy.

Description - The adult Black Baza of north and south-west India (Aviceda leuphotes leuphotes) is black above, with a strong green gloss, and with the four or five of the nape feathers extended into a long crest. The feathers of the lower back have white centres and black edges. The tail is black. Primary flight feathers are black, the secondaries being dark chestnut, crossed by a broad white bar, and tipped with black, the innermost being paler. The chin and throat are black, contrasting sharply with broad white pectoral band. The lower breast is black, tipped with white, and separated from the rest of the underside by a broad chestnut band. The belly and flanks are white barred with chestnut brown; the vent and under-tail coverts are black. The tail itself is silver grey below. The under-wing coverts are black. The underside of the primaries is silver grey, broadly tipped with black. The secondaries are dark grey below, with silver markings, the innermost being paler. The eyes are dark brown, the cere grey, and the legs black. The two sexes are alike in size.

Status and distribution: Common in large numbers at Tanjung Tuan (Melaka) during autumn (October/November) and spring passage (February-April). Unlike most other species, they often gather in flocks before making the crossing, and travel in tight groups across the ocean.

Habitat: Forests, the forest edge, plantations, heavily wooded areas.

Habits: Usually in small loose groups, frequenting the canopy and crowns of tall trees. Sometimes sits on open perches. Flight pattern distinctive, consisting of short crow-like flaps interspersed with glides; the wings are usually held flat. Migrates in large compact flocks, soaring high on rising thermals. Often roosts in groups and sleep close together. Eats insects, small vertebrates and even small birds.