The White-tailed Kite was almost extinct in California in the 1930s and 1940s from shooting and egg-collecting, but they are now common again. They can be seen in the Central Valley and southern coastal areas, and open land around Goleta. They mainly feed on rodents.
Fun Fact The ability to hold a stationary position in midair without flapping is accomplished by facing into the wind, and is so characteristic of these birds that it has come to be called kiting.