Black Kite
Scientific Name: Milvus migransMaltese Name: Astun Iswed
Family: Hawks, vultures and eagles (Accipitridae)
Occurence: Regular
Breeds in Malta: No
Overview:
The Black Kite is a medium-sized bird of prey but unlike others, they are opportunistic hunters and are more likely to scavenge. They spend a lot of time soaring and gliding in thermals in search of food. Their angled wing and distinctive forked tail make them easy to identify. This kite is widely distributed through the temperate and tropical parts of Eurasia. The upper plumage is brown but the head and neck tend to be paler. 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. The gape is yellow but the bill is black.
The species is found in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. The temperate populations of this kite tend to be migratory while the tropical ones are resident. European birds are migratory, moving to africa in winter. When migrating, the Black Kite has a tendency to form large flocks than other migratory raptors, particularly prior to making a crossing across water. With a distribution that spreads over four continents, the black kite is probably the world’s most abundant bird of prey. Not surprisingly for a species with such a colossal range, up to 12 subspecies have been described.
The nest is a rough platform of twigs and rags placed in a tree. Nest sites may be reused in subsequent years.
Status:
Regular migrant, both in Spring and Autumn, but more common in Autumn. Usually seen in singles or small flocks up to 5 but on 23rd March 2009 a flock of 27 was seen from Salina and on the 24th another flock of 12 were seen.
When to See:
August till October in Autumn, March and April in spring.
Where to See:
Can bee seen flying over during migration from anywhere. Buskett is a good spot to see this species as raptor migration is monitored from here in Autumn.
Photographs:
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Black Kite, Comino |
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| Flock of Black Kites, 24th March 2009, Salina | Black Kite, Dwejra Malta |
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Black Kite, Cirkewwa |
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