General

The three regular Eurasian forms of Milvus are often, as here, treated as subspecies of the same species, which is called Black Kite Milvus migrans. The fourth form, Red Kite, is always treated as a separate species. All have a forked tail end, which however in Black Kites disappears when the tail is fully spread. They are largish and dark brown, often common, and frequently seen raptors which are generally rather easy to separate from other species. Dark-morph Booted Eagle is rather similar in size and shape, but does not have a notched tail-end and has more distinct pale windows on the inner primaries, and a whitish patch on the shoulders. Compared to Buteos, the tail of Black Kite is clearly longer and the wing-tips broader with six fingers and the wings are not held in an upturned V as in Buteos. Larger eagles have broader wings and shorter tails with no fork at the tail-end.

Brahminy Kite is related to Milvus kites and with similar habits, but distinctly different both in shape and colouration.

Distribution

Breeds from Central Asia and the Himalaya to the shores of the Pacific and southern China. Winters widely in India, southern China and SE Asia.

Life cycle

Breeds in spring and summer, moults during the summer and autumn, even in the southern parts of the breeding area. So first-year birds are fresh in autumn and worn in spring, and 2cys and adults are moulting during the autumn and early winter.

General

Largish raptor with long, broad wings with six fingered primaries and long forked tail. The sixth outermost primary projects distinctly (more than in govinda and migrans). Soars with hands lowered.

Adult

SUBSPECIES: Quite easy to separate from adult govinda and migrans, more difficult to separate from young of both taxa. Head colour variable, but brownish and with variable black mask (migrans has more greyish head with less distinct mask). Eyes dark (vs adult migrans, which have pale eyes). Underparts with broad pale-brown streaks, with vent and undertail-coverts pale, lacking dark shaft-streaks on the underbody (vs adult migrans). Large, white-based patch on the primaries, often largish area without barring on the bases of outer 5-6 primaries, but the patch may be smaller. The ground color of the inner primaries is typically whitish, with bold blackish barring. Legs and cere dull yellow or bluish (adult govinda and migrans have brighter yellow legs and cere). However, there are lots of intermediate individuals in the large intergradation area in Central Asia. Those bird show a combination of characters - for example white on the primaries close to true lineatus, but dark vent and yellowish legs.

First-year

AGE: Ageing can be more difficult than in govinda and migrans. Generally pale head with a very distinct dark mask (but younger adults are also pale headed). Pale streaking on the head, mantle and underparts is broader and buffier than in adults, not so rufous – this difference is more distinct in fresh plumage in autumn. Greater underwing-coverts have whitish tips (vs adults, but some adults show barring on the greater primary-coverts and greater secondary-coverts, which may resemble the white tips of juveniles), and underwing coverts are in general more streaked. Lesser and median upper wing-coverts have large, pale tips which make the upperparts look quite pale. Greater upper wing-coverts also have broad, buff tips, but they fade to almost white and may even wear off by spring. (Adults may have pale tips to greater and even other coverts, forming a variegated pattern on the upperparts). In spring all of the upperparts may have worn to quite uniform brown. The trailing edge of the wing is uniform in wear, secondaries are barred almost to the tip, but variable (adults show a black terminal band with narrower, but generally distinct barring basally). The barring on the inner primaries may be quite irregular (more regular in adults), otherwise with primary colouration similar to adults. Tail barring more indistinct than in adult. In spring, fingers are more evenly worn. All feathers are somewhat more pointed than in adult. Eyes in young birds are quite dark (adults’ eyes show a reddish tinge). Young have bluish-tinged legs initially (they turn to straw-yellow in adult birds, but this difference is not always distinct).

SUBSPECIES: Young lineatus are more difficult to distinguish from the other Black Kite taxa than adults, especially when considering the intermediates. Broad pale streaks on the underbody, broader than in adults and young of other taxa, may be as broad or broader than intervening darker areas. The rear underparts including vent are distinctly paler than the breast (paler than in both migrans and govinda, which have a more uniformly coloured body). Underwing-coverts streaked or spotted pale. Larger whitish-based patch on the bases to the primaries from below than in migrans and govinda, and also on average larger than in adult lineatus, with typically the bases of all finger-like primaries unbarred.

Subadult

In some adults, the pattern of the body feathers resembles those of the juvenile plumage, and these are supposedly younger birds, especially in their second plumage.

Distribution

A common sedentary species mostly on the Indian subcontinent, but also occurs in SE Asia, where typically less numerous.

Life cycle

Breeding period variable, and fresh juveniles appear at least from late January. Many adults start the primary moult in spring in March or April, the first moult often starts earlier, but overall very variably.

General

This southern subspecies of Black Kite is in some ways intermediate between lineatus and migrans. It is browner than either, without distinct streaking on the body and typically with a completely brown head. Inner primaries and the bases of the outer are often quite strongly barred black on quite pale background, and there may also be an unbarred area on the bases of the outer primaries, but on average the wing pattern is distinctly less contrasting than in lineatus. Feet and cere are bright yellow already in juveniles, eyes are variable, but often dark in adults too. Shape is similar to lineatus, but the wings are slightly narrower.

Adult

SUBSPECIES: Head typically uniformly brown (vs adult migrans, which have greyish head), but may be greyer (but still not as contrasting as in fully adult migrans). Body quite uniformly reddish-brown from head to vent, as are the underwing-coverts. The individual feathers have a blackish longitudinal streak, but these are narrow and difficult to see at any distance (vs lineatus). In some birds the general colour may be paler and greyish-tinged. Primary-patch restricted, whitish, but strongly barred or small and unbarred. From above, feathers show well-defined shaft-streaks. Legs and cere yellow, eyes vary from yellowish to chestnut-brown, but the dark eyes are frequent and not much different from lineatus.

First-year

SUBSPECIES: Brown, streaked or spotted paler body as in juveniles of other subspecies. Normally clearly darker than young lineatus, especially on vent and may lack strong streaking on the underbody, although some are more streaked. The pale primary patch is less extensive and contrasting than in lineatus. Even more difficult to separate from migrans, but often darker (many migrans show very pale head and vent). Eyes dark, legs yellow (less yellow in lineatus).

Distribution

Breeds from Europe to western Asia where mixing with lineatus. Winters mostly in tropical Africa.

Life cycle

Breeds and moults in the summer. Wing-feather moult is still ongoing during the autumn migration.

General

A typical Milvus with long and broad wings, and longish, forked tail. Compared to lineatus, the wings are slightly narrower and the sixth outermost finger is shorter. These structural differences are more obvious in adults, but present also in juveniles.

Adult

Greyish head, contrasting with brownish body (other taxa have more brownish head), reddish-tinged underparts with fine black streaks (more distinct than in other ssp). The pale area on the primary bases is small and confined to the outer primaries (more extensive in lineatus). Inner primaries are mostly greyish and indistinctly barred (many lineatus have whiter background and more distinct barring). Pale eyes, yellow legs and cere (lineatus have dark eyes, and dull-coloured legs and cere).

Adult comparison

Typical adult Black and Black-eared Kites are not difficult to separate.

First-year

AGE:Head rather pale brown, underparts dark with some pale streaks or streaks reduced almost to spots (darker than the broad streaking of lineatus). The primary-patch as in adults, but more barred, and may be more extensive, especially towards the east. The greater underwing- coverts with pale tips (vs adult) and secondaries – inner primaries uniformly fresh or worn with narrow whitish tips. Dark eyes as in young birds of other Black Kite taxa.

SUBSPECIES:Young of Black, Black-eared and Indian Kites are difficult to separate, which is not helped by intermixing of the two first mentioned. Generally darker body than in Black-eared, especially the rear parts. Legs and cere yellowish (less yellowish in lineatus). Also slight structural differences.

Subadult

The second set of body feathers is variably immature, with possibly pale streaks on underbody, and a black mask. In autumn, 2cy birds still show some remaining juvenile remiges. Even the subsequent body plumages may not be fully mature, but exact ageing not safe any more. These younger adults may have more resemblance to the Asian subspecies.

Distribution

Resident and short distance migrant in Europe, but the distribution is quite patchy.

Life cycle

Breeds in summer. Moult starts in spring and continues until autumn. Migratory individuals finish the moult on the wintering grounds.

General

Very characteristic, large, long-tailed and long-winged raptor. Confusable with Black Kite, but with experience, not that difficult to identify. When perching, reddish fringes to mantle, coverts and tertials (more greyish brown in Black Kite). In flight, narrower wings, especially the outer part, with only five fingers (six in Black Kite), and longer, reddish tail with deeper notch. Flight style is somewhat more extreme than in Black Kite with more emphatic wing beats. Four inner primaries and bases of the outer are pale with narrow dark banding - the overall effect is a large, almost square whitish area (in Black Kite the area is palest on the bases of the outer primaries with inner primaries generally quite strongly barred). Many, especially juveniles and especially lineatus have a general effect more as in Red, but still the palest area is next to the carpal). Reddish underbody contrasting with grey head, especially in adult (Black Kite is brown, but some adults are quite reddish brown). There are several records of hybrids between Red and Black Kites.

General comparison

Red and Black Kites are confused sometimes. That is mainly because some Black Kites may show Red Kite like traits. However, with care they are identifiable at an even quite large distance. Hybrids may still be problematic.

Adult

Grey head in contrast with reddish underbody, breast with distinct rows of black streaks. Pale area on upper wing-coverts is less clearly defined than in first-year birds.

First-year

Pale brown body with dark streaks throughout. Pale tips to greater underwing-coverts. Dark subterminal band to tail (adults may show this also, but more indistinct).

Subadult

The first postjuvenile plumage is much like in adult, although may show some slight immature traits, such as a more defined tail band and paler went. Second year bird may also retain a small number of juvenile flight feathers.

Distribution

Resident in Indian subcontinent and SE Asia, especially the coastal areas.

Geographical variation

Australian birds have almost unstreaked white areas, and the birds of Thai-Malay peninsula are considered also less streaked than the western nominate birds, belonging to subspecies intermedius. However, most birds from peninsular Malesia and India are undistinguishable.

Life cycle

Young fledge mostly April-May, so the species could be classified as late-winter breeder. Wing feather moult is commencing from February, in both adults and first years, when the latter are a little more than one year old, but some body plumage moult occurs even before this. Moult normally ends in September. It seems that it may occur a month or two later in the northernmost part of distribution area than in the Thai-Malay peninsula.

General

Buzzard-like middle-sized kite. Six prominent fingers and rounded, not forked, tail, long wings often held strongly angled back and down from the carpal. When perching, looks Milvus – like in being slim and elongated. Wing beats resemble a Buteo.

Adult

Easy to identify because of the distinct and clear-cut colouration visible at large distances: whitish head and breast indistinctly streaked grey, reddish brown underwing-coverts and lower parts of the underbody, wing feathers almost unbarred, but small bars may be visible on some secondaries and inner primaries, the tips of the outermost primaries are broadly black, upperparts almost uniform reddish brown but the whitish head and mostly black outer six primaries. Pale yellowish bill and yellow legs, black eyes. (There are no other regional raptors even coming close to this colour combination).

First-year

Colouration is very different to adult and therefore may cause some confusion. Overall colour brown, head and breast paler brown and indistinctly streaked, but may be darker too. Lower belly and vent generally paler, almost dirty white in some. The tips of the outermost primaries are black, their bases and the whole inner primaries are quite pale brown with the greater primary-coverts also of the same colour, forming a clear-cut pale angular area on the inner hand. Secondaries are almost uniform blackish brown, indistinctly barred on the bases (Buteos have distinctly barred secondaries). Also rectrices are almost uniform blackish brown with some indistinct barring basally. On the upperwing, the coverts are distinctly paler than the remiges and the pale inner primary windows are visible there too. Perching individuals mostly resemble a young Milvus kite, because of the pale median covert patch, short legs, elongated rear part and dark mask. However, the head and underparts have a more reddish brown tone, the head is paler with only an indistinct mask and the breast-belly is less distinctly streaked. Greyish bill at first, turning to paler and adult-like about at the same time as the first moult commences.

Subadult

The second set of flight feathers is already as in adult, so there are no proper subadult plumages. Body feathers start to moult even before the first wing feathers have been dropped, and the body plumage gradually turns adult-like. During the first moult the plumage aspect is variably mixed between juvenile and adult plumage.

General

The three regular Eurasian forms of Milvus are often, as here, treated as subspecies of the same species, which is called Black Kite Milvus migrans. The fourth form, Red Kite, is always treated as a separate species. All have a forked tail end, which however in Black Kites disappears when the tail is fully spread. They are largish and dark brown, often common, and frequently seen raptors which are generally rather easy to separate from other species. Dark-morph Booted Eagle is rather similar in size and shape, but does not have a notched tail-end and has more distinct pale windows on the inner primaries, and a whitish patch on the shoulders. Compared to Buteos, the tail of Black Kite is clearly longer and the wing-tips broader with six fingers and the wings are not held in an upturned V as in Buteos. Larger eagles have broader wings and shorter tails with no fork at the tail-end.

Brahminy Kite is related to Milvus kites and with similar habits, but distinctly different both in shape and colouration.

Distribution

Breeds from Central Asia and the Himalaya to the shores of the Pacific and southern China. Winters widely in India, southern China and SE Asia.

Life cycle

Breeds in spring and summer, moults during the summer and autumn, even in the southern parts of the breeding area. So first-year birds are fresh in autumn and worn in spring, and 2cys and adults are moulting during the autumn and early winter.

General

Largish raptor with long, broad wings with six fingered primaries and long forked tail. The sixth outermost primary projects distinctly (more than in govinda and migrans). Soars with hands lowered.

Adult

SUBSPECIES: Quite easy to separate from adult govinda and migrans, more difficult to separate from young of both taxa. Head colour variable, but brownish and with variable black mask (migrans has more greyish head with less distinct mask). Eyes dark (vs adult migrans, which have pale eyes). Underparts with broad pale-brown streaks, with vent and undertail-coverts pale, lacking dark shaft-streaks on the underbody (vs adult migrans). Large, white-based patch on the primaries, often largish area without barring on the bases of outer 5-6 primaries, but the patch may be smaller. The ground color of the inner primaries is typically whitish, with bold blackish barring. Legs and cere dull yellow or bluish (adult govinda and migrans have brighter yellow legs and cere). However, there are lots of intermediate individuals in the large intergradation area in Central Asia. Those bird show a combination of characters - for example white on the primaries close to true lineatus, but dark vent and yellowish legs.

First-year

AGE: Ageing can be more difficult than in govinda and migrans. Generally pale head with a very distinct dark mask (but younger adults are also pale headed). Pale streaking on the head, mantle and underparts is broader and buffier than in adults, not so rufous – this difference is more distinct in fresh plumage in autumn. Greater underwing-coverts have whitish tips (vs adults, but some adults show barring on the greater primary-coverts and greater secondary-coverts, which may resemble the white tips of juveniles), and underwing coverts are in general more streaked. Lesser and median upper wing-coverts have large, pale tips which make the upperparts look quite pale. Greater upper wing-coverts also have broad, buff tips, but they fade to almost white and may even wear off by spring. (Adults may have pale tips to greater and even other coverts, forming a variegated pattern on the upperparts). In spring all of the upperparts may have worn to quite uniform brown. The trailing edge of the wing is uniform in wear, secondaries are barred almost to the tip, but variable (adults show a black terminal band with narrower, but generally distinct barring basally). The barring on the inner primaries may be quite irregular (more regular in adults), otherwise with primary colouration similar to adults. Tail barring more indistinct than in adult. In spring, fingers are more evenly worn. All feathers are somewhat more pointed than in adult. Eyes in young birds are quite dark (adults’ eyes show a reddish tinge). Young have bluish-tinged legs initially (they turn to straw-yellow in adult birds, but this difference is not always distinct).

SUBSPECIES: Young lineatus are more difficult to distinguish from the other Black Kite taxa than adults, especially when considering the intermediates. Broad pale streaks on the underbody, broader than in adults and young of other taxa, may be as broad or broader than intervening darker areas. The rear underparts including vent are distinctly paler than the breast (paler than in both migrans and govinda, which have a more uniformly coloured body). Underwing-coverts streaked or spotted pale. Larger whitish-based patch on the bases to the primaries from below than in migrans and govinda, and also on average larger than in adult lineatus, with typically the bases of all finger-like primaries unbarred.

Subadult

In some adults, the pattern of the body feathers resembles those of the juvenile plumage, and these are supposedly younger birds, especially in their second plumage.

Distribution

A common sedentary species mostly on the Indian subcontinent, but also occurs in SE Asia, where typically less numerous.

Life cycle

Breeding period variable, and fresh juveniles appear at least from late January. Many adults start the primary moult in spring in March or April, the first moult often starts earlier, but overall very variably.

General

This southern subspecies of Black Kite is in some ways intermediate between lineatus and migrans. It is browner than either, without distinct streaking on the body and typically with a completely brown head. Inner primaries and the bases of the outer are often quite strongly barred black on quite pale background, and there may also be an unbarred area on the bases of the outer primaries, but on average the wing pattern is distinctly less contrasting than in lineatus. Feet and cere are bright yellow already in juveniles, eyes are variable, but often dark in adults too. Shape is similar to lineatus, but the wings are slightly narrower.

Adult

SUBSPECIES: Head typically uniformly brown (vs adult migrans, which have greyish head), but may be greyer (but still not as contrasting as in fully adult migrans). Body quite uniformly reddish-brown from head to vent, as are the underwing-coverts. The individual feathers have a blackish longitudinal streak, but these are narrow and difficult to see at any distance (vs lineatus). In some birds the general colour may be paler and greyish-tinged. Primary-patch restricted, whitish, but strongly barred or small and unbarred. From above, feathers show well-defined shaft-streaks. Legs and cere yellow, eyes vary from yellowish to chestnut-brown, but the dark eyes are frequent and not much different from lineatus.

First-year

SUBSPECIES: Brown, streaked or spotted paler body as in juveniles of other subspecies. Normally clearly darker than young lineatus, especially on vent and may lack strong streaking on the underbody, although some are more streaked. The pale primary patch is less extensive and contrasting than in lineatus. Even more difficult to separate from migrans, but often darker (many migrans show very pale head and vent). Eyes dark, legs yellow (less yellow in lineatus).

Distribution

Breeds from Europe to western Asia where mixing with lineatus. Winters mostly in tropical Africa.

Life cycle

Breeds and moults in the summer. Wing-feather moult is still ongoing during the autumn migration.

General

A typical Milvus with long and broad wings, and longish, forked tail. Compared to lineatus, the wings are slightly narrower and the sixth outermost finger is shorter. These structural differences are more obvious in adults, but present also in juveniles.

Adult

Greyish head, contrasting with brownish body (other taxa have more brownish head), reddish-tinged underparts with fine black streaks (more distinct than in other ssp). The pale area on the primary bases is small and confined to the outer primaries (more extensive in lineatus). Inner primaries are mostly greyish and indistinctly barred (many lineatus have whiter background and more distinct barring). Pale eyes, yellow legs and cere (lineatus have dark eyes, and dull-coloured legs and cere).

Adult comparison

Typical adult Black and Black-eared Kites are not difficult to separate.

First-year

AGE:Head rather pale brown, underparts dark with some pale streaks or streaks reduced almost to spots (darker than the broad streaking of lineatus). The primary-patch as in adults, but more barred, and may be more extensive, especially towards the east. The greater underwing- coverts with pale tips (vs adult) and secondaries – inner primaries uniformly fresh or worn with narrow whitish tips. Dark eyes as in young birds of other Black Kite taxa.

SUBSPECIES:Young of Black, Black-eared and Indian Kites are difficult to separate, which is not helped by intermixing of the two first mentioned. Generally darker body than in Black-eared, especially the rear parts. Legs and cere yellowish (less yellowish in lineatus). Also slight structural differences.

Subadult

The second set of body feathers is variably immature, with possibly pale streaks on underbody, and a black mask. In autumn, 2cy birds still show some remaining juvenile remiges. Even the subsequent body plumages may not be fully mature, but exact ageing not safe any more. These younger adults may have more resemblance to the Asian subspecies.

Distribution

Resident and short distance migrant in Europe, but the distribution is quite patchy.

Life cycle

Breeds in summer. Moult starts in spring and continues until autumn. Migratory individuals finish the moult on the wintering grounds.

General

Very characteristic, large, long-tailed and long-winged raptor. Confusable with Black Kite, but with experience, not that difficult to identify. When perching, reddish fringes to mantle, coverts and tertials (more greyish brown in Black Kite). In flight, narrower wings, especially the outer part, with only five fingers (six in Black Kite), and longer, reddish tail with deeper notch. Flight style is somewhat more extreme than in Black Kite with more emphatic wing beats. Four inner primaries and bases of the outer are pale with narrow dark banding - the overall effect is a large, almost square whitish area (in Black Kite the area is palest on the bases of the outer primaries with inner primaries generally quite strongly barred). Many, especially juveniles and especially lineatus have a general effect more as in Red, but still the palest area is next to the carpal). Reddish underbody contrasting with grey head, especially in adult (Black Kite is brown, but some adults are quite reddish brown). There are several records of hybrids between Red and Black Kites.

General comparison

Red and Black Kites are confused sometimes. That is mainly because some Black Kites may show Red Kite like traits. However, with care they are identifiable at an even quite large distance. Hybrids may still be problematic.

Adult

Grey head in contrast with reddish underbody, breast with distinct rows of black streaks. Pale area on upper wing-coverts is less clearly defined than in first-year birds.

First-year

Pale brown body with dark streaks throughout. Pale tips to greater underwing-coverts. Dark subterminal band to tail (adults may show this also, but more indistinct).

Subadult

The first postjuvenile plumage is much like in adult, although may show some slight immature traits, such as a more defined tail band and paler went. Second year bird may also retain a small number of juvenile flight feathers.

Distribution

Resident in Indian subcontinent and SE Asia, especially the coastal areas.

Geographical variation

Australian birds have almost unstreaked white areas, and the birds of Thai-Malay peninsula are considered also less streaked than the western nominate birds, belonging to subspecies intermedius. However, most birds from peninsular Malesia and India are indistinguishable.

Life cycle

Young fledge mostly April-May, so the species could be classified as late-winter breeder. Wing feather moult is commencing from February, in both adults and first years, when the latter are a little more than one year old, but some body plumage moult occurs even before this. Moult normally ends in September. It seems that it may occur a month or two later in the northernmost part of distribution area than in the Thai-Malay peninsula.

General

Buzzard-like middle-sized kite. Six prominent fingers and rounded, not forked, tail, long wings often held strongly angled back and down from the carpal. When perching, looks Milvus – like in being slim and elongated. Wing beats resemble a Buteo.

Adult

Easy to identify because of the distinct and clear-cut colouration visible at large distances: whitish head and breast indistinctly streaked grey, reddish brown underwing-coverts and lower parts of the underbody, wing feathers almost unbarred, but small bars may be visible on some secondaries and inner primaries, the tips of the outermost primaries are broadly black, upperparts almost uniform reddish brown but the whitish head and mostly black outer six primaries. Pale yellowish bill and yellow legs, black eyes. (There are no other regional raptors even coming close to this colour combination).

First-year

Colouration is very different to adult and therefore may cause some confusion. Overall colour brown, head and breast paler brown and indistinctly streaked, but may be darker too. Lower belly and vent generally paler, almost dirty white in some. The tips of the outermost primaries are black, their bases and the whole inner primaries are quite pale brown with the greater primary-coverts also of the same colour, forming a clear-cut pale angular area on the inner hand. Secondaries are almost uniform blackish brown, indistinctly barred on the bases (Buteos have distinctly barred secondaries). Also rectrices are almost uniform blackish brown with some indistinct barring basally. On the upperwing, the coverts are distinctly paler than the remiges and the pale inner primary windows are visible there too. Perching individuals mostly resemble a young Milvus kite, because of the pale median covert patch, short legs, elongated rear part and dark mask. However, the head and underparts have a more reddish brown tone, the head is paler with only an indistinct mask and the breast-belly is less distinctly streaked. Greyish bill at first, turning to paler and adult-like about at the same time as the first moult commences.

Subadult

The second set of flight feathers is already as in adult, so there are no proper subadult plumages. Body feathers start to moult even before the first wing feathers have been dropped, and the body plumage gradually turns adult-like. During the first moult the plumage aspect is variably mixed between juvenile and adult plumage.