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They reach sexual maturity at two years old and live on average for ten years although the oldest known Red Kite was 26 years old.Īlthough doing relatively well in the UK and enjoyed by many, Red Kites face threats from several sources, illegal poisoning by bait left out for foxes and crows, secondary poisoning by rodenticides, and collisions with power cables are all a concern. The young fledge in a variable period of around 45 to 68 days.
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The female rarely leaves the nest and is fed by the male during this time and for several weeks after hatching.
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One to three eggs are laid at three day intervals during April, these are incubated by the female for around thirty days per egg taking up to forty days for the full clutch. The nest can be reused and added to over the years becoming very large. The nest, built by both the male and female is a rough accumulation of twigs lined with grass and if available sheep’s wool and is located in the fork of a tree branch high above the ground. They are sedentary birds, occupying their breeding home range throughout the year. Their call is a high pitched mewling and occasionally you will be alerted to its presence by this call, especially if there is more than one bird. Several public viewing sites have been set up where large groups of Red Kite will gather daily to be fed. Mainly a carrion feeder it can be opportunistic and will occasionally take small mammals and birds. Its range is however on the increase with further introduction schemes and successful wild breeding. For some years it was localised to the M40 area of the country (northern parts of the Chilterns and Cotswolds), where they could be seen in some numbers by motorists. Almost at the brink of extinction in the UK, the Red Kite was confined largely to Wales, but re–introduction schemes in central England, Yorkshire and Scotland have seen the species make a remarkable recovery. The total population of around 25,000 pairs is confined almost exclusively to Europe, with a few in North Africa. The current numbers in the UK of around 1600 breeding pairs is a direct result of what is probably our most successful re–introduction scheme in the last few decades. Usually seen at height when soaring, it has two distinctive features, white bars to the wing undersides and a forked tail. Photos ©2020 Colin Varndell Click any photo for a larger imageĬlassed as an Amber List bird species due to historical persecution, the Red Kite is a beautiful bird of prey of an overall red–brown colouration which can be seen all year round in certain areas of the UK. Red Kite - Milvus milvus Family - Accipitridae Red Kite - Milvus milvus, species information page