I keep seeing this bird near our river, like its fishing and the ONLY thing it looks like is a kite?

Question

Are there even kites in the NE of america, and are they even water birds in the first place?

Ive gone through all sorts of sea egals, gulls, really all the raptors i can think of. I just happened upon photo's of kites and the shape looked just like that.

White belly, slender sea-bird like wings, about three or four foot span, i think a brownish-greyish feathers, NO flight feathers at the tips of the wings, its very clean and pointy.

ANY IDEAS?

This is the fourth time ive seen this thing.

Iam in upstate NY.

Answer 1

Take a look at the osprey. Sounds like it might be an immature osprey.
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Osprey.html

Yes, there are kites in America. Many hawks, falcons and kites will hunt at rivers edge. Hawks will also scavenge. So, there could be something, perhaps a fish, dead or dying along the banks.

There are a couple gull species in that area that kinda fit that description, especially the immature stage. The great black-backed gull and the herring gull.
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Black-backed_Gull.html

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Herring_Gull.html

Answer 2

A large hawk like bird that catches fish and lives in the northeast would be an Osprey.

Answer 3

was it small with a big head and long beak ,could be a king fisher
moor hens are black
fish eagles look like eagles
dont know

Answer 4

i am in up state ny to,i beleave it is called a craine.

Answer 5

osprey