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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)
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Red Kites are medium-sized raptors.
The two sexes look alike.
They have a deep-rufous front and a long, thin, forked light-grey
undertail with dark spots on the outer tips. The leading edge of
the underwings, out to the alula, is also deep-rufous, while the
rest of the underwing coverts are dark-grey. The tips of the
primaries are black, while the rest of the flight feathers is
light-grey (the tertiaries can be mid-grey), with light-grey
to white wing panels.
The upperparts are also deep-rufous, except for the uppertail,
which is bright-rufous. The upperwing coverts are also deep-rufous,
with greyish-streak upperwing bars, while the flight feathers are
dark-grey.
The head is grey, with eyes that have yellow irises. The yellow
hooked bill has a dark-grey tip and the feet are also yellow.
The legs are covered by deep-rufous "trousers".
Juvenile
Red Kites have boldly streaked underparts and a paler vent than
adults.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Red
Kite at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based
on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to the
ebird.org
website.
The global distribution of the Red Kite is available
HERE
.
Red Kites are a partly migratory, partly sedentary species.
Their range extends from north-western Africa via southern,
western and central Europe into parts of eastern and
south-eastern Europe, Asia Minor and along the East coast
of the Mediterranean Sea to the Sinai and the lower Nile
valley.
Formerly there was also an overwintering population in parts
of Iran.
Former race "fasciicauda", of the Cape Verdean Islands, is
presumed to be extinct.
In Europe Red Kites are sedentary roughly westward of the river
Rhine and migratory to the East of the river.
The range of the sedentary population encompasses Iberia,
the Mediterranean islands, Italy, the East coast of the
Adriatic Sea on to Greece, including Crete. Red Kites are
also sedentary northward of the Pyrenees and the Alps,
in all of western and western central Europe, including
the British Isles.
The breeding migrants populate eastern Denmark, southern
Sweden, eastern Germany, Poland, the part of the Baltic
States. Further to the East and also in south-eastern
Europe Red Kites are seen only infrequently.
Red Kites are often found in areas with a combination of both
forest or woodlands and aquatic habitats.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "milvus"
J. Pires reports spotting Red Kites,
race "milvus",
occasionally since 2017 in the area from the Tejo estuary to Mora,
Evora, Portugal. The species was also found in Vila Vicosa, Alentejo,
Portugal, in December 2019.
G. Normand
found a Red Kite,
race "milvus",
at the Col d'Orgambidesca, Pyrenees, France, in September 2020.
In the 1970ies to 1980ies we spotted Red Kites, race
"milvus",
occasionally in the Eifel, Germany. In the absence of any
eagles, ospreys or
vultures, Red Kites are the largest diurnal raptor in
that area.
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Photos |
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Race "milvus"
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ADULT |
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Near-frontal view of a Red Kite in flight
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2019]
Near-frontal/ventral view of a Red Kite in flight
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2019]
Near-lateral/ventral view of a Red Kite in flight
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2019]
Near-lateral/ventral 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]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
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Lateral/ventral view of an immature 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)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2017]
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]
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.