In reality, they will only take small live prey as well as carrion, and will rob other birds. Rumours spread amongst the farming community that they were capable of killing sheep, as they were often found scavenging off animal carcasses. In the Middle Ages, Red Kites were much more widespread, their scavenging habits making them the refuse collectors of the day, but their numbers have much decreased through illegal persecution and poisoning. In winter, many kites will roost together.Īt signs of danger a mother will signal the young who will 'play dead' to the extent that a fox will believe them to be dead and leave them, thinking it can return to eat them later. This species nests in trees, often close to other kites. The call is a thin piping, similar to but less mewling than Common Buzzard. Sexes are similar, but juveniles have a buff breast and belly. The white primary flight feathers contrast with the black wing tips and dark secondaries. The body, upper tail and wing coverts are rufous. It is an elegant bird, soaring with long wings held at a dihedral, and long forked tail twisting as it changes direction. It is a European rare species which is resident in the milder parts of its range, but birds from northern and central Europe winter further south and west. In the framework of the LIFE Save the Flyers Project (five red kites had been released in the Gola della Rossa and Frasassi Regional Park (Marche) and monitored through satellite radio: one of the birds was found dead in 2013, 8 months after release, poisoned by a mixture of drugs in Umbria (Province of Perugia).The Red Kite ( Milvus milvus) is a medium-large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers. The impact of poison on this species is well known in other European countries such as Spain and United Kingdom, but not in Italy.Īnyway, it is certain that the use of poison represents a serious threat for these birds. The red kite is a sort of indicator of the use of poison, as it feeds on small preys or carrion, and can therefore easily spot and eat poison baits or carcasses. In the framework of the projects, 106 juveniles originating from Corsica and Switzerland were released in the region: a new population could thus settle, consisting (as of 2014) of about 18-20 breeding pairs and over 70 overwintering birds.
In southern Tuscany, this species was reintroduced thanks to two consecutive LIFE projects (carried out by Unione dei Comuni Montani Amiata Grossetana (an association of mountain municipalities), with the support of Enel Distribuzione S.p.A. It almost completely disappeared from central Italy, where only a small population survived on the Tolfa Mountains in upper Lazio, and was preserved only in southern regions.Ĥ25-515 pairs are currently estimated to live in the country: about 50% of them (210-230 pairs) live in Basilicata, and a significant colony is settled in Abruzzo (70-100 pairs). This species was once widespread in several central and southern Italian areas, but it progressively declined, especially in the second half of the 20th century.
In Italy, the red kite is classified as endangered in the Red List of breeding birds. In some European areas, this species is instead growing, for instance in Switzerland (1,200-1,500 pairs), or starkly growing: the Swedish population consisted of 30-50 pairs in the 1970s, whereas it exceeded 2,000 pairs in 2012. Some key populations in particular, such as the Spanish (1,900-2,600 pairs), French (3,000-3,800) and German ones (10,500-14,000), are rapidly declining. In the IUCN - International Union for the Conservation of Nature - Red List (2008), this species is classified as near threatened, because its population is decreasing at a relatively fast pace it is likely to be soon included in a higher danger category. Red kites are endemic to the western Palearctic, with the European population of 19,000–25,000 pairs encompassing 95% of its global breeding range. Presence: Resident in southern Europe, migratory in central-northern Europe
The nest is made of twigs, pieces of cloth, and also plastic or other waste.ĭiet: carrion, garbage, small mammals (especially mice and voles), worms, insects, fishes and small birds It flies with extraordinary agility, often opening and twisting its tailĮnvironment: It alternates hill or low-mountain countryside with vast open spaces and woods
Plumage (adults): Multicoloured (reddish brown, black, and white, with light grey head)įlight silhouette: Unmistakeable thanks to the long wings and long forked tail, which is narrower at the junction with the body.
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