Black Kite
Milvus migrans
- 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 Golden Gate Highlands National Park
Jackal Buzzard
Buteo rufofuscus
Cape Griffon
Gyps coprotheres
Bearded Vulture
Gypaetus barbatus
Verreaux's Eagle
Aquila verreauxii
Common Buzzard
Buteo buteo
Black-winged Kite
Elanus caeruleus
Long-crested Eagle
Lophaetus occipitalis
African Harrier-Hawk
Polyboroides typus
White-backed Vulture
Gyps africanus
African Marsh-Harrier
Circus ranivorus
Secretary Bird
Sagittarius serpentarius
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Black Kite in Golden Gate Highlands National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black Kite sighting in Golden Gate Highlands National Park, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Black Kite in Golden Gate Highlands National Park?
January has the highest sighting rate for Black Kite in Golden Gate Highlands National Park in our monthly data.