Kite Facts

Quick Facts

This magnificently graceful bird of prey is unmistakable with its reddish-brown body, angled wings and deeply forked tail. It was saved from national extinction by one of the world's longest running protection programmes, and has now been successfully re-introduced to England and Scotland. It is an Amber List species because of its historical decline.

1. Field Characters & Identification

Field Characters & Identification Latin Name:- Milvus milvus. Type:- Raptor. Length:- 60 - 66cm. Wingspan: 175-195cm Weight:- 800-1,300g ...

2. Nesting & Breeding

Nesting & Breeding Nest:- Dead twigs and lined with grass and other vegetation. A quantity of sheeps wool is often added 2-3 days prior to egg laying. Kites will include plastic bags,...

3. Conservation Actions

Conservation action The red kite is subject to the longest continuous conservation project in the world. Concerned individuals, appalled at the continuing destruction of kites, formed the first...

4. Population trends

Population trends The red kite suffered from intensive human persecution through much of its world range, which is mainly in Europe , until the mid-1950s, but especially so between...

5. Legal status & Threats

Legal status & Threats Red Kites and the Law The red kite is afforded the highest degree of legal protection under the Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is an...

6. Sightings of Kites

Sightings of Kites Any sightings of kites outside the core areas of Buckinghamshire/Oxfordshire and central Wales need to be reported to the RSPB. All the birds released as a part of...

Red Kite News
New web site Wed 11/02/2009 We are delighted to announce the launch of our new look website for the Galloway Kite Trail. The new site will allow us to interact more with local...

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