Red Kite

The Red Kite (Milvus milvus) is a medium-large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards, and harriers. The species is currently endemic to the Western Palearctic region in Europe and northwest Africa, though formerly also occurred just outside in northern Iran. It is a rare species which is resident in the milder parts of its range in western Europe and northwest Africa, but birds from northeastern and central Europe winter further south and west, reaching south to Turkey. Vagrants have reached north to Finland and south to Israel and Libya.

Desciption
A slender bird with a deeply forked tail, it has a graceful look in the air. It is large and red-brown in appearance; when flying, it looks angular. When seen below, the black tips and inner white feathers highlight the length of its wings. This species also has a distinctly forked tail, which is pale rust-red in colour.

Females are larger than males; otherwise, the sexes look the same.

Similar species
Black Kite is slightly smaller and less angular than the Red Kite and also has a less deeply forked tail.

Behaviour
It flies with slow, deep wingbeats, gliding for long periods. It flies fast and twisting dives, with flexibility and elasticity in its movements.

It is a partial migrant.

Reproduction
Nest is a large, shallow structure, made of twigs, earth and wool, and placed in a tree.

Distribution/habitat
Much of Europe, NW Africa, and the Middle East.