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 articles:

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Juvenile Black Kite at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Photo Credit: Solomon Anthony.
Juvenile Black 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
Black Kite at Neo Tiew Road. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Juvenile Black Kite in flight with the smaller size juvenile Brahminy Kite at Choa Chu Kang Christian Cemetery. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Black Kite at Neo Tiew Road. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Juvenile Black Kite at Changi. Photo Credit: Con Foley
Juvenile Black Kite at Changi. Photo Credit: Con Foley
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.
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

Singapore Birds Project. (n.d.). Black Kite. Retrieved on May 28, 2023 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/black-kite.