Status in UK:
(AC3) Resident/Re-Introduced Breeder, Passage Visitor
Subspecies:milvus recorded in Britain (of 2 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
63 cm
Wingspan:
185 cm
Weight:
M: 1000 g F: 1.2 kg
Scientific name from:
L.: milvus=a kite
World Distribution:
Locally throughout Europe & nw Africa
Habitat:
Pasture, open woodland, forest
Diet:
Scavenger on carrion, scraps, will take small live prey
TitBit:
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
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
No population trend available
Distribution:
No distribution maps available
British Population Size:
Summer:
372 to 490 pairs
in 2000
First Record:
8th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Ipswichian (last) interglacial, c. 125,000 yr ago]
Latest Survey:
Wotton, S.R. et al. (2002) Bird Study 49:278-286
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
Summer:
19 to 25 thousand pairs
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WCA(I,IV), WBD(I), Bern(III), Bonn(II), CITES(II)
Survey Results:
Welsh Kite Trust
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
57 x 45 mm
Egg Weight:
63.0 g (of which 8 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
8
Clutch Size:
2 eggs
Incubation:
31 - 32 days
by the:
Female (occ. Male)
Fledging:
50 - 60 days
as:
Altricial, downy
First Clutches Laid:
Unavailable
Number of Broods:
1
Number Ringed:
163
Adult Survival:
No data
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
2
years
Typical Lifespan:
No data
Maximum Recorded Age:
20yr1m
(Germany: 25yr 8m)
Biometrics
Ring Size:
G (pulli G or Ho)*
Wing Length
Adult:
Insufficient Data.
Juvenile:
Insufficient Data.
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Weight
Adult:
Insufficient Data.
Juvenile:
Insufficient Data.
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Other Names
Gaelic:
Clamhan-gobhlach
Welsh:
Barcud Coch
Danish:
Rød glente
Dutch:
Rode wouw
Finnish:
Isohaarahaukka
French:
Milan royal
German:
Rotmilan
Hungarian:
Vörös kánya
Icelandic:
Svölugleða
Irish:
Cúr Rua
Italian:
Nibbio reale
Norwegian:
Glente
Polish:
Kania ruda
Portuguese:
Milhano
Spanish:
Milano real
Swedish:
Glada
For 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
See Also:
Wikipedia entry
State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides.com
These data should be cited as: Robinson, R.A. (2005) BirdFacts: profiles of birds occurring in Britain & Ireland (v1.22, Oct 2008). BTO Research Report 407, BTO, Thetford (http://www.bto.org/birdfacts)
button; for sources point at the 
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Other Names
