General Facts:
Red kites, Milvus milvus, can be found in woodland, grassland and heathland. Despite being apex predators and being at the top of the food chain, red kites feed on scavenged carrion, invertebrates and small mammals. While buzzards have a wingspan of 109-140cm, red kites have a wingspan of around 185cm. They also weigh 0.8-1.3kg.
Appearance:
With a deeply-forked tail, red kites are mostly a rusty reddish-brown. However, they have patches of white on their wings before darker, fingered wing tips. Also, their head is light grey and this apex predator has a yellow, curved beak.
Breeding:
At the age of two years, red kites mate for the first time, having around three eggs. After sixty days, the chicks fledge but continue to be fed by their parents for a few weeks. As red kites are a monogamous bird, each couple returns to the same nest every year.
Threats and Population:
During the early 20th century, nearly all red kites were wiped out because of persecution, with only a few breeding pairs in Wales. However, their population has grown and they soar through most of the UK’s skies.