FAQs
FAQs


What do they eat?
Being scavengers they live mainly on carrion, things which are already dead, for example rabbits and rats. They will take some live prey, for example, mice, voles and the occasional small bird. At certain times of the year they will also forage for invertebrates, for example earthworms

Do they kill for food?
Red Kites do not have the power and strength of some Birds of Prey/Raptors but will take small mammals, for example mice, voles and the occasional small bird.

How can I tell the difference between an adult and a juvenile?
Adult birds have a silver/grey head and a pronounced fork in the tail. Close inspection will show black tips to the tail.
Juveniles are generally paler in colour with their head more brown and the tail is noticeably less forked and in flight do not seem as steady as the adult. There will be little difference in size between the two.



Juvenile                                               Adult

What’s the difference between the male and female?
The plumage of both sexes is the same with the female being very slightly bigger than the male.

How big are they?
Their wing span is up to 150cm (5ft) and including their tail, their body length is approx.60cm (2ft) They weigh between 900 and 1,300 grams

Where do they nest?
Red Kites nest in trees, sometimes on top of old crows nests or squirrel dreys. They sometimes have more than one nest around the nesting site and the female chooses which one she wishes to use.

How many eggs/young do they have?
They usually lay just the one clutch of 1 to 3 eggs. However, clutches of 4 eggs have been recorded, at least 2 Yorkshire pairs having raised 4 young.

How long do they live?
The oldest Welsh Kite so far recorded was ringed 24 years before it died. There have been several other birds that have approached 20 years of age

Where can I see them in Yorkshire?
In the Wharfe Valley around the Harewood Estate in West Yorkshire and on the East Yorkshire Wolds. Good views can be obtained from Public Rights of Way. See Ordnance Survey Explorer maps 294 and 297

At what age do they usually start breeding?
Normally in their second or third year, however several Yorkshire birds have been known to have bred successfully at 1 year old

What is the Latin name for the Red Kite?
Milvus milvus

What is the difference between a Red Kite and a Buzzard?
The Red Kite has a forked tail and a Buzzard has a fan-shaped tail as illustrated in the pictures below. For more detail see 'Is it a Red Kite or is it a Buzzard?'



         Buzzard                                       Red Kite



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