John Gill Commentary Leviticus 11:14

"and the kite, and the falcon after its kind," — Leviticus 11:14 (ASV)

And the vulture, and the kite after his kind. Perhaps it might be better if the version was inverted, and the words be read, "and the kite, and the vulture, after his kind"; and the last word is by us rendered the vulture in (Job 28:7) and very rightly, since the kite is not remarkable for its sight, any other than all rapacious creatures are, whereas the vulture is to a proverb; and besides, of the vulture there are two sorts, as Aristotle says ^F11, the one lesser and whiter, the other larger and more of an ash colour; and there are some that are of the eagle kind ^F12, whereas there is but one sort of kites; though Ainsworth mentions two, the greater of a ruddy colour, common in England, and the lesser of a blacker colour, known in Germany, but produces no authority for it.

However, these are both ravenous creatures: Of the kite, Aelianus says ^F13, it is very rapacious, and will take meat out of the meat market, but not touch any sacrificed to Jupiter; the truth of which may well be questioned; And of vultures he reports ^F14, that they will watch a dying man, and follow armies going to battle, expecting prey; (See Gill on Matthew 24:28).

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FOOTNOTES:

• F11: Hist. Animal. l. 8. c. 3.
• F12: Aristot. ib. l. 9. c. 32. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 10. c. 3. Aelian. de Animal. l. 2. c. 46.
• F13: De Animal. l. 2. c. 42.
• F14: Ib. c. 46.