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6

Red Kite

(Milvus milvus)
German name(s): "Roter Milan", "Rotmilan", "Gabelweihe", "Königsweihe"
Size: 61-72 cm; wing span 1.4-1.8 m
Weight: 0.8-1.2 kg (male); 1.0-1.3 kg (female)

Similar
species

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

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Red Kite at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "milvus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Red Kite in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sao Marcos da Ataboeira, Castro Verde, Alentejo, Portugal, February 2023]

Frontal/ventral view of a Red Kite in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2019]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Red Kite in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Red Kite in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Castro Verde, Alentejo, Portugal, February 2023]

Near-lateral view of a Red Kite in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2015]

Lateral view of a Red Kite banking sharply (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Vicosa, Alentejo, Portugal, December 2019]

Lateral view onto the upperparts of a Red Kite in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2017]

Lateral/ventral view of a Red Kite in flight; note the characteristic deep-rufous underparts, in particular the vent, and the long, slender, forked tail (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2015]

Direct comparison between a Black Kite, left, and a Red Kite, right; we have attempted to show the birds in the same posture, on the same scale - click on either photo to view a larger version (photos courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2015]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral/ventral view of an juvenile Red Kite in flight; this bird still has the pale vent and prominent white wing panels of a juvenile, while the body is starting to adopt adult colours (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Couco, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, February 2020]

Lateral/ventral view of a juvenile Red Kite in flight; note the heavily streaked front and the pale colours, in particular of the vent
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2018]

Near-dorsal view onto the upperparts of an juvenile Red Kite in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Couco, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, February 2020]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of an juvenile Red Kite in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, Couco, Coruche, Santarem, Portugal, February 2020]

Food, Diet

Frontal/ventral view of a Red Kite in flight with its prey, probably a bird (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sao Marcos da Ataboeira, Castro Verde, Alentejo, Portugal, February 2023]

Frontal/ventral view of a Red Kite in flight with its prey, probably a bird (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sao Marcos da Ataboeira, Castro Verde, Alentejo, Portugal, February 2023]

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.

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