Black kites have a ritualized aerial courtship, which consists of extremely loud calls to one another. Range length 47 to 60 cm 18.50 to 23.62 inīlack kites are believed to be monogamous, having a single mate at a time and may even pair for life, although there has been some debate.
( Ferguson-Lees and Christie, 2001 Kilkenney-Blake, 2003 Meyer and Francl, 1995 Vang and Dabrowka, 2011) Red kites are also similar in appearance to black kites because of their yellow legs and brown coloring. The main difference between these two species is that yellow-billed kites have yellow bills, whereas black kites have black bills.
Black kites often are confused with closely related yellow-billed kites, because of their similar appearance. The genus Milvus includes red kites ( Milvus milvus), yellow-billed kites ( Milvus aegyptius), and Cape Verde kites ( Milvus milvus fasciicauda). Juveniles are generally lighter in color and have shorter forked tails than adult black kites. Black kites exhibit slight sexual dimorphism in that females have a slightly larger body size than males, through they feature similar coloration. Their sharp talons are very effective for catching and holding prey. Black kites have long black talons and pale yellow legs. Tail coloration is mostly brown, with darker brown striped feathers within. Their tail feathers are split, forming a v-shape hence the name “fork-tailed”. Black kites are often called "fork-tailed kites" because of the distinct shape of their tails.
Black kite skin#
In addition, this species is recognized for its yellow cere, the skin located on the top of the beak near the nostrils. The outer edge of their wings appears to be "fingered" (a space between each feather gives the appearance of fingers). The head of black kites is lighter in color (typically a faint brown or grey).īlack kites have small, bead-like dark brown eyes and a large black, hook-shaped beak for tearing flesh and consuming their prey. These markings are especially evident along the ventral body surface. The ventral color is mostly brown, but with a lighter brown to nearly rust color markings dispersed throughout. Their dorsal coloration is mostly brown, which fades to a darker brown towards the tips of the wings and tail. Body length ranges from 47 to 60 cm, with an average wingspan of 140 to 150 cm. ( Ferguson-Lees and Christie, 2001 Jais, 2009 Kilkenney-Blake, 2003 Mebs and Schmidt, 2006)īlack kites are medium-sized raptors, weighing 560 g on average. Occasionally, black kites nests will be located near nests of the closely related red kite ( Milvus milvus). Black kites prefer mid-canopy parts of trees, but have been seen as high as 30 m. In addition, although black kites are attracted to various woodland habitats, they rarely inhabit dense forests.īlack kite nests tend to be located 8 to 15 m above ground, in forests with close proximity to water or in areas with little tree cover. Black kites are rarely seen in natural desert habitats or high elevation mountainous areas. Most black kites migrate to Africa during the winter, settling near the southern Sahara region. It has been suggested that they reside in African and Asian cities because there is high prey abundance, such as roadkill or rats. Black kites also occur in woodlands, open savannas, and sometimes even in large cities. Wetlands are another habitat that attracts black kites. Black kites are commonly found along river edges, which provide necessary resources such as fresh water and fish. Most are found in open areas where there is close access to water bodies such as rivers, ponds, or lakes.
( Ferguson-Lees and Christie, 2001 Mebs and Schmidt, 2006 Sibylle, 2010)īlack kites inhabit a broad range of habitats. Black kites migrate depending on the availability of roosting sites and resources. The Australian region is used only during winters (December through February). Their Palearctic range, spanning from the west coast of Central Europe to the east coast of Asia, is occupied only during early summer (late March to early May) and is mainly for breeding. There are no known regions in which this species has been introduced. Their abundance in these areas has been associated with the abundance of resources. However, year-round, they reside mainly in the southern-most areas of tropical Oriental and Ethiopian regions. Black kites also occur in temperate areas, including Palearctic, Oriental, Ethiopian, and Australian regions. However, they are lacking in the Indonesian Archipelago, specifically in areas between the Wallace line and the mainland of Southeast Asia. Black kites ( Milvus migrans) occur in tropical portions of Australasia, Eurasia, and Africa.
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