Red Kite

The Red Kite is a large, elegant raptor of the family Accipitridae, easily recognized by its long, angled wings and deeply forked reddish tail, which it twists constantly in flight to steer.

Appearance

• Rich chestnut-rufous body and wing coverts with a pale grey head streaked darker.
• Long wings show a pale panel ('window') at the base of the primaries, contrasting with dark wingtips.
• Deeply forked, rufous tail is diagnostic even at long range.
• Sexes look alike; juveniles are duller with pale-tipped feathers giving a scaly look.

Key field marks

• Long, narrow, angled wings held in a shallow 'M' or bowed shape while soaring
• Deeply forked tail, constantly twisted for control - the single best distinguishing feature
• Overall rufous-chestnut tone with a pale grey head
• Pale primary 'wing window' visible from below

Similar species

• Black Kite has a shallower, less deeply forked tail, is darker and more uniformly brown, and lacks the strong rufous tones.
• Common Buzzard has broader, shorter wings, a fanned rounded (not forked) tail, and soars in a shallow V.
• Marsh Harrier flies with wings held in a shallow V low over reedbeds, lacks the forked tail.

Habitat

Favors a mosaic of farmland, pasture, and broadleaf woodland for nesting, but forages over open country, roadsides, and refuse sites; reintroduction schemes have made it common over some towns and cities in Britain.

Range

Breeds locally across western, central, and southern Europe, with strongholds in Wales, England, Germany, Spain, and France; a small resident population also occurs in Morocco. Many European birds are resident or short-distance migrants, while some northern and eastern populations winter further south.

Migration

Central and northern European breeders are partial migrants, moving to Iberia and southwestern Europe in winter; reintroduced British populations are largely resident.

Behavior

A superb, buoyant flier that spends long periods soaring and gliding on almost motionless wings, using its forked tail for precise aerial control; often scavenges in loose groups at carcasses or landfill sites.

Voice

Gives a thin, mewing 'wee-oo-wee-oo-wee' call, higher and more drawn out than a Buzzard's, often delivered in flight.

Feeding

An opportunistic scavenger and predator, taking carrion (including roadkill), earthworms, small mammals, and occasionally live birds; will steal food from other raptors.

Nesting & breeding

Builds a large stick nest in a tall tree, often decorated with unusual items such as plastic, paper, or cloth; lays 1-3 eggs; pairs frequently reuse and add to nests over multiple years.