Black Kite
Milvus migrans
Silhouette: PhyloPic · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderAccipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies)
- FamilyAccipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
- GenusMilvus (Milvus Kites)
- SpeciesMilvus migrans (Black Kite)
About the Black Kite
The black kite or fire kite (Milvus migrans) is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors. It is thought to be the world's most abundant species of Accipitridae, although some populations have experienced dramatic declines or fluctuations. Current global population estimates run up to 6.7 million individuals.
Unlike others of the group, black kites are opportunistic hunters and are more likely to scavenge. They spend much of their time gliding in thermals in search of food. Their angled wing and distinctive forked tail make them easy to identify. They are vociferous with a distinct shrill whinnying call.
The black kite is widely distributed through temperate and tropical parts of Eurasia and parts of Australasia and Oceania. Temperate populations tend to be migratory. Several subspecies are recognized, with several having previously had English names. The European populations are small, but the South Asian population is comparatively very large.
The black kite was described by the French polymath Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon in his Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux in 1770. The bird was... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Gir National Park
Oriental Honey-buzzard
Pernis ptilorhynchus
White-eyed Buzzard
Butastur teesa
Crested Serpent Eagle
Spilornis cheela
Short-toed Eagle
Circaetus gallicus
Indian Spotted Eagle
Aquila hastata
Gray-headed Fish-Eagle
Icthyophaga ichthyaetus
Crested Hawk-Eagle
Nisaetus cirrhatus
Black-winged Kite
Elanus caeruleus
Indian Vulture
Gyps indicus
Brahminy Kite
Haliastur indus
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Imperial Eagle
Aquila heliaca
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.