Red Kite (bird)

Created: 2022-12-26
Status: #soil
Last Edited: 2022-12-26
Topic: #birds #RemovedTag birds raptors

What is Red Kite?

The Red Kite (Milvus milvus) is a medium-large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes other raptors such as hawks, eagles, and harriers. It is predominantly red-brown in color with a white head, yellow beak and yellow legs. It is native to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

Red Kites are scavengers and feed mainly on carrion, but will also take small mammals, reptiles and insects. They are social birds that live in groups called "roosts". They roost communally at night and during the day they disperse to search for food.

Red Kites have been persecuted throughout history due to their scavenging habits and have seen significant declines in numbers over the past century or so. However, thanks to conservation efforts they have made a comeback in recent years and can now be found in many parts of Europe.