Red Kite

An elegant species with a long forked tail that twists as it changes direction, the Red Kite is a medium-large bird of prey that is in the same family as raptors, eagles, buzzards and harriers.

As a scavenger, it feeds primarily on carrion and as such keeps its ecosystem free from disease. It has been known to prey on small mammals such as mice and rabbits. An important staple of its diet in the spring are earthworms.

In most cases, the Red Kite is a sedentary bird that occupies its breeding home range all year. It prefers broadleaf woodlands, valleys and wetland edges, particularly in the Western Palearctic region of Europe.

It pairs for life and builds large, untidy nests of sticks in the forks of trees. 75% of this species’ global population is concentrated in Germany, France and Spain; however, these areas have seen a notable decline of the Red Kite over the past 30 years.