Black Kite

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iBlack Kite

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Falconiformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Milvus
Species:	M. migrans

Binomial name

Milvus migrans
(Boddaert, 1783)

The Black Kite (Milvus migrans) is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards, and harriers.

This kite is a widespread species throughout the temperate and tropical parts of the Old World (including Europe, Asia, Japan, all of Africa except the Congo basin and the Sahara Desert), and Australasia. Curiously, it is not found in the island region between the South East Asian mainland and the Wallace Line.

European and central Asian birds (races M. m. milvus and M. m. lineatus respectively) are migratory, moving to the tropics in winter, but races such as the African M. m. parasitus, the Indian M. m. govinda ( Pariah Kite), and the Australasian M. m. affinis (Fork-tailed Kite), are resident.

Pariah Kite Milvus migrans govinda, the Indian race of the Black Kite

In the northern winter, it is therefore common to have a resident race and a distinguishable migrant form present together in these hotter areas.

In the United Kingdom, the Black Kite occurs only as a wanderer on migration. These birds are usually of the nominate race, but in November 2006 a juvenile of the eastern lineatus, not previously recorded in western Europe, was found in Lincolnshire.

Black Kites will take small live prey as well as fish, household refuse and carrion. They are well adapted to living in cities and are found even in densely populated areas. They are attracted to fires and smoke where they seek escaping insect prey. Large numbers may be seen soaring in thermals over cities. In some places they will readily swoop to take to food offered by humans, their habit of swooping to pick up dead rodents from roads often leads to them being hit by vehicles. They are also a major nuisance at some airports where they are considered important birdstrike hazards.

The Black Kite can be distinguished from the Red Kite by its slightly smaller size, less forked tail and generally dark plumage without any rufous.

The Black Kite nests in forest trees, often close to other kites. In winter, many kites will roost together.

The Red Kite has been known to successfully hybridize with the Black Kite (in captivity where both species were kept together, and in the wild on the Cape Verde Islands).

Recent DNA studies suggest that the yellow-billed African races of Black Kite, M. m. parasitus and M. m. aegyptius differ significantly from Black Kites in the Eurasian-Australasian clade, and could be considered as a separate species, the Yellow-billed Kite, M. aegyptius.

However, the same study suggests that the Asian M. m. lineatus, sometimes separated as the Black-eared Kite M. lineatus, is not sufficiently distinctive to justify specific status.

[edit] References

BirdLife International (2004). Milvus migrans. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
Birding World vol 18 no 12