Red Kite

Milvus milvus

Family Name: Accipitridae

The Red Kite is a graceful bird of prey known for its distinctive forked tail and elegant, buoyant flight. Unlike the high-speed dives of falcons, Red Kites soar effortlessly on thermals, using their agility and keen eyesight to scavenge or hunt small mammals, birds, and carrion. Though not built for extreme speed, their aerial control and acrobatics make them formidable and highly adaptable hunters.

The Red Kite, like many other birds of prey, has experienced a turbulent history. Once widespread across the UK, it was heavily persecuted from the Middle Ages onwards, largely because it was seen as a threat to game and livestock, and by the late 19th century it had been driven to near extinction in Britain. By the early 20th century, only a small population clung on in remote parts of mid-Wales, protected by local landowners and conservationists. Despite this, egg collecting and illegal poisoning continued to endanger the species, and numbers remained perilously low. In the late 20th century, a major reintroduction programme was launched using birds from Spain and later Sweden and Germany. Thanks to these efforts, alongside stronger legal protection and public support, Red Kites have made a remarkable recovery, spreading across much of the UK once again despite ongoing challenges from persecution and poisoning.