The black kite (Milvus migrans) is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae and is possibly the most numerous and wide spread species of raptor being found throughout much of Europe, the Middle East, both mainland Africa and Madagascar, both Northern and Southern mainland Asia, Japan, Indonesia, New Guinea, and Australia. Throughout this great range Black kites dwell in a variety habitats including wetlands, coastlines, temperate grassland, tropical savannas, shrubland, scrublands, open woodlands, agricultural areas, and even large cities, only really avoiding dense forests, open sand dune desert, and high mountains. They are a highly social species which tends to form larger flocks than most other raptors, which spend the night in large communal roosts before taking flight come morning to hunt throughout the day. Black kites are most often seen gliding and soaring on thermals as they search for prey such as fish, rodents, bats, smaller birds, insects, and small reptiles. Which they catch by swooping down with there legs lowered to snatch the victim with ease. They are attracted to smoke and wildfires, where they seek escaping prey, and commonly called firehawks do to there ability and propensity to spread fires by picking and dropping burning twigs or chunks of grass so as to flush and kill even more prey. They are also known to regularly feed upon carrion and human garbage. And are known to drop items such as sticks/ rocks onto nesting waterfowl, or weaver nests in order to tear open the structures and eat the eggs/ chicks. Black kites are themselves preyed upon by eagles and especially the Eurasian eagle owl. Reaching around 20 to24 inches (52 to 60cms) in length, 22 to 33oz (630 -940g) and sporting a 55 to 60in (140 to 150cm) wingspan, these mid sized birds are generally dark in color. The upper plumage is brown but the head and neck tend to be paler. The patch behind the eye appears darker. The outer flight feathers are black and the feathers have dark cross bars and are mottled at the base. The lower parts of the body are pale brown, becoming lighter towards the chin. The body feathers have dark shafts giving it a streaked appearance. The cere and gape are yellow, but the bill is black. The legs are yellow and the claws are black. These are monogamous bird which mate for life, and typically build nests out of sticks, twigs, grasses, and occasionally plastic and fabric on tree branches, cliff ledges, or buildings and may be reused in subsequent years. Here the female will lay 2-3 eggs which are incubated by both parents for 30 -34 days. Under ideal conditions a black kite will fledge and become independent after around 50 days, reach sexual maturity at around 2 years, and may live upwards of 25 years.
