Red Kite Milvus milvus

Linnaeus, 1758

Key Facts

Image
Please click Image for an explanation or hover over Image for the source
Image Scientific Classification Accipitriformes > Accipitridae
Image Field Codes KT , REDKI , 2390
Image Status in UK (A C3  Resident/Introduced Breeder, Passage Visitor Image
Image Number in Britain 4400 Pairs (Summer)
Conservation Status Image
Image in UK GREEN
Image in Europe Least Concern
Image Globally Near Threatened Image
ImageMeasurements Length: 63 cm    |  Wingspan: 185 cm    |  Weight: Male 1000 g   Female 1.2 kg    Image
ImageIdentification Tips View pictures from the Crossley ID Guide , or listen to sound-clips from Xeno-Canto
ImageWorld Distribution Locally throughout Europe & nw Africa
ImageFound in Pasture, open woodland, forest
ImageDiet Scavenger on carrion, scraps, will take small live prey
ImageScientific name from L.: milvus=a kite
ImageSubspecies milvus recorded in Britain (of 2 subsp. in the world)
ImageTitBit This was once a common bird in London (Shakespeare referred to kites no fewer than 15 times), where it scavenged for scraps, and old rags for nest-building.
ImageBritish Population Size
   Summer: 4400 Pairs in 2016 Image
ImageFirst Record Recorded in Anglo-Saxon times Image [Fossil evidence from Ipswichian (last) interglacial, c. 125,000 yr ago]
Image Current Conservation Status GREEN Image
Image Past Assessments 2015-2020 GREEN Image 2009-2014 AMBER Image 2002-2007 AMBER Image 1996-2001 RED Image
Image Historical Trends Image
1800-49 1850-99 1900-39 1940-69 1969-95 1996-2020
Image Image Image Image Image Image
Image Listed on the Annexes of WCA(I,IV), WBD(I), Bern(III), Bonn(II), CITES(II) Image
Image European Population Size 70 thousand pairs (65 to 77 thousand pairs) Image
Image European Population Status Habitats Directive Report
Image European Distribution Map European Breeding Bird Atlas

Migration & Movements

Image View movements of the last year using the EuroBirdPortal Viewer
Image View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

Breeding & Survival

-- Productivity and Nesting Success
View latest trends from the Nest Record Scheme
Image Number of Broods 1
Image Egg Size 57 x 45 mm    Weight = 63.0 g (of which 8 % is shell)
Image Clutch Size 2 eggs
Image Incubation Period 31 - 32 days | by Female (occ. Male)
Image Fledging Period 50 - 60 days | as Altricial, downy Image
-- Survival and Longevity
Image Maximum Age from Ringing 25 years 8 months 28 days (set in 2018) Image
Image Typical Lifespan 4 years with breeding typically at 2 years
Image Adult Survival 0.610 Image Image
Image Juvenile Survival 0.500 (in First-Year) Image
Image View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report

Biometrics

Image Ring Size G (pulli G or H)*
Image Wing Length
  Adults Insufficient Data
  Juveniles Insufficient Data
  Males Insufficient Data
  Females Insufficient Data
Image Feather measurements and photos on featherbase
Image Body Weight
  Adults Insufficient Data
  Juveniles Insufficient Data
  Males Insufficient Data
  Females Insufficient Data

Other names

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name
Gaelic: Clamhan-gobhlach Welsh: Barcud Coch Catalan: milà reial
Czech: lunák cervený Danish: Rød Glente Dutch: Rode Wouw
Estonian: puna-harksaba Finnish: isohaarahaukka French: Milan royal
German: Rotmilan Hungarian: vörös kánya Icelandic: Svölugleða
Irish: Cúr Rua Italian: Nibbio reale Latvian: sarkana klija
Lithuanian: rudasis peslys Norwegian: Glente Polish: kania ruda
Portuguese: milhafre-preto Spanish: Milano real Swedish: röd glada
Local British Names: Glead
More bird names from Ethno-ornithology World Atlas

More information

Books and Monographs

  • Carter, I. 2001 The red kite Arlequin Press, Chelmsford [598.521 CAR]
  • Cross, T. & Davis, P. 2005 The Red Kites of Wales
  • Cobham, D. & Pearson, B. 2014 A sparrowhawk's lament: how British breeding birds of prey are faring Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ [598.5 COB]

Links from ConservationEvidence.com

See also

This page should be cited as: Robinson, R.A. (2005) BirdFacts: profiles of birds occurring in Britain & Ireland. BTO, Thetford (http://www.bto.org/birdfacts, accessed on )