Milvus migrans.
The best known of all African birds of prey, seen chiefly near towns and villages.
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Black Kite Milvus migrans. The best known of all African birds of prey, seen chiefly near towns and villages. |
| Recognition: Large. Plumage entirely shades of dark brown. The forked tail is distinctive. Adults have a yellow bill. The forked tail and long pointed wings make an unmistakable flight silhouette. |
| Distribution: Different races occur throughout Africa and all are somewhat migratory. The West African race seems northward in the rains and southward to breed in the dry season. |
| Habits: Seen singly or in large parties. Kites are mainly scavengers, often met in early morning cleaning the night's kills from roads. River and harbour offal and the victims of bush fires also afford food. Sometimes catch insects (e.g. Termites) in their claws while flying. They have an easy flappy flight, but also soar in rising air particularly at bush fires. Numbers roost year after year in a favoured tree. Nests are built in high trees during the dry season. |
| Call: A drawn-out and plaintive "Peeeeee-yewrrrr", heard specially at midday. |
