Black Kite

Milvus migrans

Introduction

A regular visitor to Britain from mainland Europe, typically during April and May, Black Kite is more uniformly dark and with a less strongly forked-tailed than Red Kite.

Key Stats

Status

Rare

Weight

815g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

2.9k records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

% expansion

Identification

Curated resources to aid in the identification of Black Kite

Songs and Calls

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Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Black Kite, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

Call:

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern

Least Concern

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Northumberland, 1866

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in winter

% occupied in winter

0.1%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

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This species has been too rarely reported to BirdTrack during 2011–22 to properly assess seasonality.

Movement

Information about Black Kite movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

The Eurasian-African Migration Atlas shows movements of individual birds ringed or recovered in Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Black Kite, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Black Kite

Classification and Codes

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Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Scientific name: Milvus migrans
Authority: Boddaert, 1783

BTO 2-letter code: KB
BTO 5-letter code: BLAKI
Euring code number: 2380

Alternate species names

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Catalan: milà negre
Czech: lunák hnedý
Danish: Sort Glente
Dutch: Zwarte Wouw
Estonian: must-harksaba
Finnish: haarahaukka
French: Milan noir

German: Schwarzmilan
Hungarian: barna kánya
Icelandic: Vatnagleða
Irish: Cúr Dubh
Italian: Nibbio bruno
Latvian: melna klija
Lithuanian: juodasis peslys
Norwegian: Svartglente

Polish: kania czarna
Portuguese: milhafre-preto
Slovak: haja tmavá
Slovenian: crni škarnik
Spanish: Milano negro
Swedish: brun glada
Welsh: Barcud Du

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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