Yellow-billed kite
The Black kite (Milvus migrans) is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors. It is thought to be the world's most abundant species of Accipitridae. Unlike others in the group, Black kites are opportunistic hunters and spend much time soaring and gliding in thermals in search of food. Their angled wing and distinctive forked tail make them easy to identify. They are also vociferous with a shrill whinnying call.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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ScavengerScavengers are animals that consume dead organisms that have died from causes other than predation or have been killed by other predators. While sc...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
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GlidingGliding flight is heavier-than-air flight without the use of thrust and is employed by gliding animals. Birds in particular use gliding flight to m...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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CongregatoryCongregatory animals tend to gather in large numbers in specific areas as breeding colonies, for feeding, or for resting.
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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Soaring birdsSoaring birds can maintain flight without wing flapping, using rising air currents. Many gliding birds are able to "lock" their extended wings by m...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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FlockingFlocking birds are those that tend to gather to forage or travel collectively. Avian flocks are typically associated with migration. Flocking also ...
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Partial MigrantPartial migration is when within a migratory species or even within a single population, some individuals migrate while others do not.
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starts withBlack kites are generally dark in color. The upper plumage is brown but the head and neck tend to be paler. The patch behind the eye appears darker. The outer flight feathers are black and the feathers have dark cross bars and are mottled at the base. The lower parts of the body are pale brown, becoming lighter towards the chin. The body feathers have dark shafts giving it a streaked appearance. The cere and gape are yellow, but the bill is black. The legs are yellow and the claws are black. Males and females have the same plumage but females are longer than males.
Black kites are found in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. European and central Asian birds are migratory, moving to the tropics in winter, but populations in warmer regions are residents. Black kites live in a wide variety of habitats from wetlands, river edges, coasts, grassland, open savannas, shrubland, and woodlands, to large cities. However, these birds try to avoid dense forests and high mountains.
Black kites are social raptors and in winter, they form large communal roosts. These birds hunt by day and are most often seen gliding and soaring on thermals as they search for food. They will swoop down with their legs lowered to snatch small live prey or carrion, for which behavior they are known in British military slang as the shite-hawk. The Indian populations are well adapted to living in cities and are found in densely populated areas. Large numbers may be seen soaring in thermals over cities. In some places, they will readily swoop and snatch food held by humans. Black kites are very vocal birds; they communicate with a distinctive shrill whistle followed by a rapid whinnying call.
Black kites are carnivores and scavengers. They are opportunist hunters and prey on fish, small mammals, birds, bats, and rodents. These birds will also consume household refuse and carrion.
Black kites are monogamous and form strong pair bonds that may last for life. The time of breeding varies with location. In India, it begins in winter (mainly January and February), while European birds breed in summer. Black kites nest singly or in loose groups. The nests are built on tree branches, cliff ledges, or buildings and may be reused in subsequent years. They are made from sticks and twigs and may sometimes be decorated with bright materials such as white plastic. Both the male and female take part in nest building, incubation, and care of chicks. The typical clutch size is 2 or sometimes 3 eggs. The incubation period varies from 30-34 days. Newly hatched chicks have a sepia down on the back and black around the eye and buff on the head, neck, and underparts. Body feathers begin to appear after 18 to 22 days. The nestlings are able to stand on their legs after 17-19 days and begin flapping their wings after 27-31 days. After 50 days, they begin to move to branches next to the nest. Black kites are able to breed after their second year.
The main threats to Black kites include poisoning, shooting, and the pollution of water by chemicals. These birds also often perch on electric wires and are frequent victims of electrocution. Their habit of swooping to pick up dead rodents or other roadkill leads to collisions with vehicles. They are also a major nuisance at some airports, where their size makes them a significant birdstrike hazard. As a large raptorial bird, the Black kite has few natural predators. However, they do have a single serious predator: the Eurasian eagle-owl. The eagle-owl freely picks off kites of any age from the nestling stage to adulthood and was noted to precipitously decrease kite breeding success when nesting within kilometers of the kites in the Italian Alps.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total Black kite population size is around 4,000,000-5,700,000 mature individuals. In Europe, the breeding population is estimated to number 186,000-254,000 breeding pairs, equating to 372,000-507,000 mature individuals. Overall, currently, Black kites are classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and their numbers today are stable.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...