Red Kite

bird of prey · Europe · conservation success · endangered species

Master of the skies. Red kites are acrobatic fliers with long, deeply forked tails that help them twist and turn as they hunt for food. They belong to the same family as eagles, buzzards, and harriers, making them true raptors that hunt during the day.

European residents. Today, red kites breed only in Europe, though they once lived across West Asia and Northwest Africa too. Some northern birds still migrate south for winter, while others now stay put year-round.

Wandering adventurers. While red kites usually stick to their European homes, some occasionally show up in unexpected places like Finland in the north and Israel, Libya, and the Gambia in the south.

Originally warm-climate birds. Historically, red kites only lived year-round in the mild western parts of Europe and Northwest Africa, but now more northern populations are staying through winter instead of migrating.