Carrion are animals that are already dead - having died from another cause such as disease, being hit by a car or electrocuted, or taken down by another predator. Like the Yellow-headed Caracara, the Red Kite is also a well-known carrion feeder. It is also known to feed on earthworms, which make up a good portion of its diet. It will also take small birds and insects - including grasshoppers, beetles, ants, moths and craneflies.

It will hunt mammals such as rabbits, mice, shrews and voles. The Red Kite has a long list of prey items on its menu. Because of these threats, the population is experiencing a decline in much of its range. Other threats include human persecution and loss of habitat. Sadly, the species is facing many threats such as secondary poisoning from pesticides (which occurs when Red Kites feed on prey that have ingested poison) or deliberate poisoning - this is when people lace dead animals with poison, so the kites ingest it directly when they consume the meat. The Red Kite is listed as a species of Least Concern. It can often be seen soaring with its long wings spread at an upward angle - known as dihedral. The Red Kite has been described as elegant, regal, and just plain lovely. While others will migrate south when winter sets in. In flight, it has distinctive white patches on the underwings and, perhaps it has a deeply forked-tail, which is visible both in flight and when it is perched.All in all, the Red Kite is one of the most stunning kites around.ĭepending on where they live, some Red Kite populations are mostly stationary - meaning they will remain on their territory all year round. It has a yellow cere and black beak, and its back, wings, and breast are a mosaic of reds, browns, and creams. It has a pale eye and an overall grey head and neck, which are streaked with thin dark lines. And, in fact, they do! Adult Red Kites have rusty-red tails that really stand out in flight.

Based on its name, one might guess that this kite has at least some red in its plumage. Throughout much of the Red Kite's range, it inhabits a mosaic of different habitats including mature deciduous and mixed forests, forest edges, clearings, meadows, cultivated fields, pastures in both lowlands and highlands, flooded and riverine forests, Mediterranean bush, oaks, pinewoods, farmlands, scrub habitat, wetlands, and olive tree plantations. It is considered extinct on the Canary Islands and Cape Verde. It breeds in or migrates to a number of different countries including Great Britain, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Germany, France, Poland, Serbia, Morocco, Tunisia, Iran, Turkey and the Ukraine, to name just a few. The Red Kite is found throughout much of western Europe and northern Africa. We also supply literature to researchers from our avian research library, which helps scientists around the world gather and share important information on raptor conservation. Though The Peregrine Fund doesn't work directly with Red Kites, our efforts in scientific research, habitat conservation, education, and community development help conserve raptors on a global scale.

Red kite uk