Kite in Smiths Bible Dictionary

(Heb. ayyah), a rapacious and keen-sighted bird of prey belonging to the hawk family. The Hebrew word thus rendered occurs in three passages -- Le 11:14; De 14:13; Job 28:7 In the two former it is translated "kite" in the Authorized Version, in the latter "vulture." It is enumerated among the twenty names of birds mentioned in De 14:1 ... which were considered unclean by the Mosaic law and forbidden to be used as food by the Israelites.