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6

Black Kite (Milvus migrans) Alternate name(s): "Fork-tailed Kite", "Allied Kite", "Kite-Hawk", "Pariah Kite" Aboriginal name(s): "djillidjilli" Size: 50-55 cm (male), 55-60 cm (female); wing span 1.2-1.5 m Weight: Race "affinis" 500-640 g (male), 560-670 g (female)

Australia: Family Group 6 Family Group 6 Table Osprey Brahminy Kite Whistling Kite Little Eagle Black Kite Square-tailed Kite Black-breasted Buzzard Wedge-tailed Eagle White-bellied Sea-Eagle Spotted Harrier Swamp Harrier Black-shouldered Kite Letter-winged Kite Pacific Baza Collared Sparrowhawk Brown Goshawk Grey Goshawk Red Goshawk Nankeen Kestrel Australian Hobby Peregrine Falcon Brown Falcon Grey Falcon Black Falcon Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Black Kites are medium-sized raptors with (near-black) dark-brown plumage. The body is dark-brown, except for a small grey patch under each eye, the wings and tail are even darker brown. When seen closely, one can distinguish some barring on the underside of the primary flight feathers. The bill is dark-grey with a yellow base and yellow gape, the legs and feet are also yellow. Juvenile Black Kites have lighter-brown colours, which more closely resemble adult Whistling Kites. The main distinguishing feature between the two is that Black Kites have shorter, much broader, and prominently forked tails. Twitcher's tip Black Kites use their tails very actively for various flight manoeuvres. In the process, the tail, which normally is slightly forked, can adopt various shapes, such as a pronounced fork, a "V", a squarish shape or like a wedge. This can make identification by the shape of the tail a bit tricky for beginners.

Taxonomy, classification See Black Kite at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Black Kite is available HERE . Black Kites are a species with a wide-ranging distribution. There are several races found on different continents, part of which are migratory and/or dispersive while others are sedentary. Nominate race "migrans" breed in much of Europe (but not along the coast from the Bretagne to the German Baltic Sea coast, the British Isles or Scandinavia; for details see a field guide) and farther East into Asia, as far as the northern tip of Pakistan. Southward their range extends through almost all of Turkey and into northern Iran and Afghanistan. There is also a breeding population on the north-western African coastal fringe and the Atlas Mountains. Black Kites from the northern breeding grounds will winter along the western Greek coastline, parts of the Middle East, in the Euphrates/Tigris river system and along parts of the Iranian coastline of the Persian Gulf. A large population winters in most of Africa South of the Sahara desert (except central western Africa) and on both sides of the southern Red Sea. Black Kites, race "affinis", are found in Australia, northern New Guinea and parts of the Indonesian archipelago. For information on the distributions of races "lineatus", "govinda" and "fomosanus" see a field guide or Wikipedia. Black Kites, race affinis", are present basically everywhere on the Australian continent, including part of the North coast of Tasmania. They are only rarely present in the south-eastern part of WA and the south-eastern coastal strip roughly from Sydney, NSW, to Melbourne, VIC. Black Kites hunt mostly above open country such as e.g. open grassland, but also along inland watercourses. They also scavenge and can therefore often be found around rubbish tips in large numbers. Where to look? How to find this species? Black Kites are most easily found around rubbish tips. There, and elsewhere, if one sees large numbers of raptors circling together, many (if not all) of them tend to be Black Kites. They are the only species of predator that will flock together. Identification and distinction of juvenile Black Kites from Whistling Kites is usually done by noting the shape of the tail. Black Kites have a very wide tail with a straight end, whereas Whistling Kites have relatively much longer tails that are also narrower and have a rounded tip.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "affinis" We have spotted Black Kites, race "affinis", in various locations in inland Australia, including the Narrabri area, NSW, since 2003. They are often numerous and their distribution is widespread. They were also spotted by us on a trip to outback NSW and South Australia in March 2008. In particular, there was a flock of about 50 Black Kites 10 km West of Burren Junction, NSW. Black Kites, race "affinis", were found by us in abundance (in one case in a flock of about 1000) in the NT in August 2014. Contributors also report finding them in the Top End of the NT regularly. D. Wilczynska reports spotting an immature Black Kite, race "affinis", in rainforest at Daintree NP in March 2015. J. Greaves reports spotting Black Kites, race "affinis", in Broome, WA, in April 2015, and at Ivanhoe Crossing, Kununurra, WA, in January 2016. M. Mearns reports finding Black Kites, race "affinis", near Normanton, far-northern QLD, in June 2007. M. Eaton reports spotting Black Kites, race "affinis", with dependent young, near Cunnamulla, QLD, in September 2017, in Goondiwindi, QLD, in March 2018. They are found regularly in many different locations in inland QLD. R. Plumtree reports spotting a Black Kite, race "affinis", at Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, in January 2019. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours found a Black Kite, race "affinis", along the Daintree River, QLD, in September 2020.

Photos

Race "affinis"

This race is also called the "Fork-tailed Kite".

Not the photos you want? Or are you after even better quality? Have a look here .

ADULT

FEMALE

Frontal view of a Black Kite; the reddish front may indicate that this is an old female
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Leanyer Swamp, Darwin, NT, July 2019]

Frontal view of a female(?) Black Kite (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Goondiwindi, QLD, March 2018]

Frontal/ventral view of a female(?) Black Kite (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Darwin, NT, July 2018]

Near-lateral view of a female(?) Black Kite on the ground (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mount Molloy, QLD, July 2018]

Lateral/ventral view of a moulting female(?) Black Kite, giving in particular its tail an unusual appearance; however, note the typical yellow gape and feet (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Ivanhoe Crossing, Kununurra, WA, January 2016]

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Black Kite on the ground (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mount Molloy, QLD, July 2018]

Frontal view of a Black Kite (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bamaga, Cape York peninsula, QLD, August 2019]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Black Kite (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Stanage Bay, QLD, July 2021]

Near-lateral view of a Black Kite (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Stanage Bay, QLD, July 2021]

Near-lateral view of a Black Kite (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

Lateral view of a Black Kite (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Stanage Bay, QLD, July 2021]

Lateral view of a Black Kite (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Karumba, QLD, September 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Black Kite (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Thargomindah, QLD, June 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a Black Kite (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Goondiwindi, QLD, March 2018]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Black Kite (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Stanage Bay, QLD, July 2021]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Black Kite in flight
[Narrabri, NSW, February 2012]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Black Kite attempting to gain altitude
[Narrabri, NSW, September 2011]

Close-up near-lateral view of a Black Kite in flight (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Daintree River, QLD, September 2020]

Lateral view of a Black Kite in flight
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Close-up lateral/ventral view of a Black Kite in flight (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, May 2021]

Lateral/ventral view of a Black Kite checking out the photographer
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Close-up near-dorsal/ventral view of a Black Kite in flight (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, May 2021]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a Black Kite in flight
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Lateral/ventral view of a Black Kite in flight
[Narrabri, NSW, February 2012]

Dorsal/ventral view of a Black Kite in flight
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

While banking this Black Kite opens up a great view of its plumage in brilliant sunlight
[Narrabri, NSW, September 2011]

Direct comparison between a Black Kite, upper left, and a Whistling Kite; the former is flying at a somewhat lower altitude and therefore only appears to be larger - both were waiting for prey, probably locusts, to drop dead in a cotton field that had just been sprayed by a crop duster plane
[Near Bugilbone, NSW, February 2018]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a family of Black Kites, with a juvenile bird in the middle (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, October 2017]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Black Kite (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Birdsville, QLD, July 2021]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Black Kite (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Casuarina Coastal Reserve, Darwin, NT, October 2017]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Black Kite (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gatton, QLD, April 2018]

Immature Black Kite on a fence post
[Near Burren Junction, NSW, April 2009]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Black Kite (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Gatton, QLD, April 2018]

These immature Black Kites seen at Narrabri Lake are "spillover" from the local rubbish tip
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, June 2012]

Family of soaking wet Black Kites; adult, front right, and juvenile on the left; the bird in the background may also be a juvenile (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

Frontal view of a juvenile Black Kite in flight
[Near Pilliga, NSW, May 2019]

Frontal/ventral view of a juvenile Black Kite banking to the right
[Near Pilliga, NSW, May 2019]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a juvenile Black Kite in flight (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Kakadu NP, NT, July 2020]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Black Kite in flight
[Near Pilliga, NSW, May 2019]

Lateral view of the underwing pattern of a juvenile Black Kite; note also how the legs are hidden by feathers for minimal air resistance
[Near Burren Junction, NSW, April 2009]

Lateral view of the upperwing pattern of a juvenile Black Kite
[Near Burren Junction, NSW, April 2009]

Black Kite seen from straight behind - note the kinked wings and the skewed tip of the tail, both of which are typical of Black Kites
[Near Baan Baa, NSW, 2005]

Race "migrans"

This race is also called the "European Black Kite".

Photos of Black Kites, race "migrans", were obtained in Europe.

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Dec

Eggs: 2 - 3

Incubation period: ca. 35 days

Fledging age: ca. 40 days

The breeding season for Black Kites depends on geographical latitude and weather conditions. In the tropical North, they can breed any time of the year.

Twitcher's tip

Note that, by the time they fledge (i.e., leave their nest), the young of all species of raptors - apart from the tail and wing feathers (which are still growing) - are already full adult-size.

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket

Material: Sticks; leaves, grass, bark, wool lining

Height above ground: 10 - 20(?) m

Black Kite nest - possibly a recycled Australian Raven nest (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Moree, NSW, February 2014]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 52 x 42 mm

Colour: Creamy, with light- to mid-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Black Kite nest with 3 eggs in it; in the background one can see the type of landscape in Outback QLD in which a pair of Black Kites expects to thrive and rear a full clutch of 3 chicks (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Bedourie, QLD, August 2022]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Nomadic/dispersive

Elementary unit: Flock

Black Kites are the first bird species to re-enter open grassland after a fire, looking for prey that has been killed by the fire. In more vegetated bushland, this role falls to Brown Falcons.

Black Kites are the only species of raptor known to us that will congregate in large flocks. In the Outback, up to 50 were spotted by us together in one flock. Near the rubbish tip in Darwin, NT, we found a flock of about 1000 Black Kites.

Hundreds of Black Kites, both adult and sub-adult, above a rubbish tip (click on photo to see the full frame; there were even more birds around that are not shown on this wide-angle shot); we could not identify a single raptor in this crowd that was not a Black Kite
[Narrabri, NSW, May 2013]

Part of a flock of Black Kites at the local rubbish tip
[Narrabri, NSW, June 2020]

Two of a total of ten Black Kites scavenging at a rubbish tip, which upset the local population of Australian Ravens a bit
[Narrabri, NSW, September 2011]

About half of a huge flock of Black Kites seen near a rubbish tip, where they had been breeding successfully for two seasons in a row
[Narrabri, NSW, August 2012]

Some beaches in the Northern Territory are populated by more Black Kites than humans
[Lee Point beach, Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Some Black Kites were even observed resting on the beach
[Lee Point beach, Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Food, Diet

Adults: Carrion, small mammals, birds

Dependents: As adults

Water intake: None

All raptors are carnivores. Black Kites mainly feed on carrion. They are often found around rubbish tips. Black Kites have a preference for "deep-fried" prey; they specialize in cleaning up after bushfires.

We have once spotted two Black Kites perched in a dead tree, above a flock of Little Red Flying-foxes (bats), possibly hoping for a juvenile to be lost by its mum (full-grown flying-foxes are too big to be potential prey for Black Kites).

During the first few weeks, raptors feed their chicks with pieces of meat. Later on in their development, the chicks learn to tear apart their parents' prey.

Lateral view of a Black Kite in flight with its prey (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Narrabri Lake, NSW, May 2021]

Although blown to smithereens, this roadkill still holds some attraction for a Black Kite (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[South of Normanton, QLD, June 2007]

Group of Black Kites hoping to find a deep-fried meal in a paddock after a burnoff
[Near Bourke, NSW, September 2012]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

blkite_20140820.m4a	affinis (Darwin, NT)	Contact call	© MD
blkite_20140820_2.m4a	affinis (Darwin, NT)	Contact call (+ Whistling Kite)	© MD
blkite_20140820_3.m4a	affinis (Darwin, NT)	?	© MD
blkite_pb_20210730_2.m4a	affinis (Darwin, NT)	Territorial calls	© PB
blkite_pb_20210730.m4a	affinis (Darwin, NT)	Territorial calls (harassing juvenile Eastern Osprey)	© PB

More Black Kite sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.

Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Sat, 13 May 2023, 4:13 +00:00