Red Kite vs Black Kite
Milvus milvus and Milvus migrans
Red Kite
Milvus milvus
Black Kite
Milvus migrans
Comparison notes
Field marks and practical differences
The Red Kite and Black Kite are often confused due to their similar shapes and scavenging habits, but key differences aid identification in the field. The Red Kite has a striking reddish-brown plumage with a pale grey head and a deeply forked tail that twists in flight. Its wingspan is larger, reaching up to 195 cm, and its underwings show pale patches near the tips. In contrast, the Black Kite is darker overall, with almost black-brown feathers and a shallower forked tail. Its wings have a distinct angled shape with pale patches on the underside of the flight feathers, but the wingspan is smaller, typically 140-160 cm. Both species can be found soaring over open countryside, but the Red Kite is more common in the UK, especially in areas like the Chiltern Hills, while the Black Kite is a rare visitor. The Black Kite favours wetlands and urban areas, often scavenging near human settlements. Observing tail shape, plumage colour, and wing pattern in flight are the most reliable ways to distinguish these kites.
Size stats
Compare species by wingspan and weight
- Body length
- 60 - 70 cm
- Wingspan
- 175 - 195 cm
- Weight
- 0.8 - 1.2 kg
- Body length
- 50 - 60 cm
- Wingspan
- 140 - 160 cm
- Weight
- 0.8 - 1.2 kg
Habitats
Where they live
Diet breakdown
What they eat
- Carrion50%
- Vertebrates30%
- Insects15%
- Other Invertebrates5%
- Carrion50%
- Insects20%
- Vertebrates20%
- Fish10%
Species notes
Descriptions and photographer notes
Red Kite
The Red Kite is a striking bird of prey with reddish-brown feathers, a pale grey head, and a deeply forked tail that twists as it flies. Its underwings have noticeable pale patches near the tips. The wingspan can reach up to 175 centimetres, giving it a graceful and light flight as it soars and glides with its wings held in a shallow V shape. The species was once hunted almost to extinction in Britain, but successful reintroduction efforts have helped populations to recover across much of England, Wales, and Scotland. The Red Kite is also found widely across mainland Europe and parts of North Africa. Red Kites prefer open countryside with scattered trees and are often seen flying over valleys and farmland. They eat a variety of food, including dead animals, small mammals, and earthworms. They often gather at feeding stations when food is provided. Their mewing calls are most commonly heard during the breeding season.
Black Kite
The Black Kite is a medium-sized bird of prey with dark brown feathers that look almost black in dim light, which helps to tell it apart from the similar Red Kite. Its most noticeable feature is its tail, which has a shallow fork, not as deeply split as the Red Kite’s. When flying, the wings have a distinct angled shape with pale patches on the underside of the main flight feathers. The head looks relatively small, and the beak is modest compared to other birds of prey of a similar size. The Black Kite is found widely across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. It is one of the most common birds of prey in the world, although it is only an occasional visitor to Britain. These birds prefer wetlands, river valleys, and open countryside. They often gather near towns and villages where they look for food scraps and other opportunities to scavenge. They are very social birds, especially during migration, when thousands of them can be seen flying along main routes. The Black Kite shows a great ability to live in areas changed by people. It is often seen soaring over towns and cities within its range.