Red Kite
Latin Name: Milvus Milvus
Size: 60-65cm (Males are slightly smaller than females)
Wingspan: 175-195cm
Weight: 0.7-1kg
Colour:
Body - russet
Head - grey/white
Tail - grey/white tipped with black, deeply forked. (Juveniles are duller in colour than adults)
Voice: Mew-like "Weoo-weoo-weoo", rapidly repeated
Breeding
In March, kites begin to spend more time in potential nesting areas. They will use nests abandoned by other birds, or will build their own in tall trees. The nests are made from large sticks and are normally lined with wool, which the birds collect along with other unusual items such as pieces of plastic, and sometimes even items of clothing.
By mid-April the female lays up to four white eggs, flecked with light brown, of which one to three usually hatch after 34 days.
The young birds fledge in about six to seven weeks and will remain with their parents for a further week to 10 days.
Feeding Habits
Red Kites mainly scavenge on dead animals, but will also feed on chicks, small mammals and invertebrates such as beetles and earthworms.
Belief that kites killed lambs and gamebirds led to their widespread persecution. In fact, kites pose no threat to sheep farming or game rearing, though they will eat dead lambs and pheasants.
A kite's territory varies depending on the abundance of food. Where food is plentiful, large numbers of kites can be found living together.
Distribution
In the United Kingdom, populations of red kites now occur in the Chilterns, mid Wales, north Scotland, central Scotland, east Midlands and Yorkshire. All these populations except the one in Wales, are the result of re-introduction.
Worldwide, they can be found in parts or Europe, the Middle East and along the north African coast.
See Also