Black Kite

Black Kite

Scientific Name: Milvus migrans

Malay Name: Helang-Kembara Hitam

Chinese Name: 黑鸢

Range: Found from Europe, Africa, Middle East, Indian subcontinent, Central Asia, Siberia, China, Japan, Korea, Indochina and discontinously to Sulawesi, Lesser Sundas, Papua New Guinea and northern Australia with the northern temperate populations wintering south to Africa, Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: migrans, lineatus, govinda, formosanus, affinis.

Local Subspecies: lineatus

Size: 61-66 cm

Identification: Adult resembles juvenile Brahminy Kite but has darker overall plumage, distinctive forked tail that appears almost square-cut when broadly fanned in flight and conspicuous whitish patch on the base of primaries. Juvenile resembles adult but has prominent whitish streaks on breast and belly.

Similar looking species: Booted Eagle, Brahminy Kite

Habitat: Open country, reclaimed land, coastal habitat and forest.

Behaviour/Ecology:

Local Status: Rare migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2021)

Location: Recent sightings were at Changi, Tuas South, Punggol Barat, Central Catchment Forest, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Bulim Avenue and Choa Chu Kang Christian Cemetery.

Featured reports: Oct 2023, Nov 2023

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Black Kite Milvus migrans
Estimated average number of individuals by week based on eBird data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024
Peak week Oct 29-Nov 04
Early date 18 Sep 2005
Late date 19 May 1990
One of the few scarce migratory raptors which still winters almost annually in Singapore. The most recent wintering bird was at the Kranji area.
Juvenile Black Kite in flight with the smaller size juvenile Brahminy Kite at Choa Chu Kang Christian Cemetery. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Juvenile Black Kite at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Photo Credit: Solomon Anthony.
Juvenile Black Kite in flight with the smaller size juvenile Brahminy Kite at Choa Chu Kang Christian Cemetery. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Juvenile Black Kite in flight with the smaller size juvenile Brahminy Kite at Choa Chu Kang Christian Cemetery. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Juvenile Black Kite at Changi. Photo Credit: Con Foley
Juvenile Black Kite at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Photo Credit: Solomon Anthony.
Juvenile Black Kite at Changi. Photo Credit: Con Foley
Juvenile Black Kite at Choa Chu Kang Christian Cemetery. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Black Kite at Neo Tiew Road. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Black Kite at Neo Tiew Road. Photo credit: Francis Yap

External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Black Kite)

References:

BirdLife International. (2021). Milvus migrans. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T181568721A206588554.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Black Kite. Retrieved on November 17, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/black-kite.

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