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Description

Species Name: Fork-tailed Kite
Species Latin Name: Milvus migrans Affinis
Sub Species:
European Black Kite (Milvus migrans Migrans)
Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans Lineatus)
Small Indian Kite (Milvus migrans Govinda)
Fork-tailed Kite (Milvus migrans Affinis)
Taiwan Kite (Milvus migrans Formosanus)
Native To: Sulawesi, Lesser Sunda Islands, Papua New Guinea, North Eastern and Eastern Australia
Conservation Status:
Photo Taken At: Werribee Zoo

Size (length):55-60 (21.7 - 23.6 inches)
Weight: 630-940g (22.2 - 22.2 oz)
Lifespan: 24-28 Years
Wingspan: 140-160cm (55.1 - 63.0 inches)
Population Size: 1.0-2.5 million

Description:
These medium sized birds are covered head to toe with light and dark brown feathers all over their body. The tips of their wings will be a shade darker than the rest of their body. These birds have a yellowish-orange beak that is black at the end. Their beak is very sharp to assist with tearing apart the meat they hunt and scavenge from. During flight they have a forked tail which they use to maneuver though the sky as they effortlessly glide in the air. These birds have brown eyes. The males tend to be smaller and less aggressive than the females.

Diet:
Asa bird off prey this bird will hunt lizards and small mammals. This bird will also hunt insects, in particular when it comes to insects they will eat grasshoppers. These birds are scavengers as well as hunters an have been noted to frequent the tips/dumps of outback towns. These birds will also flock together around bushfires, taking the opportunity to hunt small animals fleeing the fire itself. As a hunter and scavenger these birds will eat both live prey and dead carrion.

Behaviour:
These birds are found in a variety of different locations, these habitats range from timbered watercourses to open plains. They are usually seen in and around outback towns away from large cities. Although it is more common to see these birds in small groups these birds can flock together in flocks that number in the thousands, these flocks tend to occur especially around grasshopper plagues. No other Australian bird of prey is noted to flock in such large numbers. The calls of these birds are described as a descending whistle like 'psee-err' which is then followed by a sharp -si-si-si-si-si'.

These birds will either nest in isolated mating pairs or in small, scattered colonies. During mating season both the males and females will partake in a ritualized aerial courtship in the air. They will call to each other, grapple at each others feet/talons, then tumble and cartwheel in the air. Their nest will be a bulky cup of sticks with the interior being lined with softer materials. The nest itself will be built on the fork of a tree branch for stability. As the female incubates the eggs the male will leave the nest to search for food. Mating season lasts between the months of June to December. The mother will lay three to four eggs and she will incubate the eggs for around 33 days until the eggs hatch. The baby birds will remain in the nest for around 42 days.

Although these birds are uncommon throughout Australia it is believed that their numbers are increasing due to the clearing of land where they hunt. Additional factors such as the increased numbers of galahs, rabbits, and starlings which the Fork-tailed Kite preys on would also likely result in an increase in their numbers.

Further Reading (general information):
Wikipedia: Black kite - Wikipedia
Birdlife: Black Kite | BirdLife Australia
Animalia: Black Kite - Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio

Australian Museum: Black Kite - The Australian Museum

Description

Species Name: Fork-tailed Kite
Species Latin Name: Milvus migrans Affinis
Sub Species:
European Black Kite (Milvus migrans Migrans)
Black-eared Kite (Milvus migrans Lineatus)
Small Indian Kite (Milvus migrans Govinda)
Fork-tailed Kite (Milvus migrans Affinis)
Taiwan Kite (Milvus migrans Formosanus)
Native To: Sulawesi, Lesser Sunda Islands, Papua New Guinea, North Eastern and Eastern Australia
Conservation Status:
Photo Taken At: Werribee Zoo

Size (length):55-60 (21.7 - 23.6 inches)
Weight: 630-940g (22.2 - 22.2 oz)
Lifespan: 24-28 Years
Wingspan: 140-160cm (55.1 - 63.0 inches)
Population Size: 1.0-2.5 million

Description:
These medium sized birds are covered head to toe with light and dark brown feathers all over their body. The tips of their wings will be a shade darker than the rest of their body. These birds have a yellowish-orange beak that is black at the end. Their beak is very sharp to assist with tearing apart the meat they hunt and scavenge from. During flight they have a forked tail which they use to maneuver though the sky as they effortlessly glide in the air. These birds have brown eyes. The males tend to be smaller and less aggressive than the females.

Diet:
Asa bird off prey this bird will hunt lizards and small mammals. This bird will also hunt insects, in particular when it comes to insects they will eat grasshoppers. These birds are scavengers as well as hunters an have been noted to frequent the tips/dumps of outback towns. These birds will also flock together around bushfires, taking the opportunity to hunt small animals fleeing the fire itself. As a hunter and scavenger these birds will eat both live prey and dead carrion.

Behaviour:
These birds are found in a variety of different locations, these habitats range from timbered watercourses to open plains. They are usually seen in and around outback towns away from large cities. Although it is more common to see these birds in small groups these birds can flock together in flocks that number in the thousands, these flocks tend to occur especially around grasshopper plagues. No other Australian bird of prey is noted to flock in such large numbers. The calls of these birds are described as a descending whistle like 'psee-err' which is then followed by a sharp -si-si-si-si-si'.

These birds will either nest in isolated mating pairs or in small, scattered colonies. During mating season both the males and females will partake in a ritualized aerial courtship in the air. They will call to each other, grapple at each others feet/talons, then tumble and cartwheel in the air. Their nest will be a bulky cup of sticks with the interior being lined with softer materials. The nest itself will be built on the fork of a tree branch for stability. As the female incubates the eggs the male will leave the nest to search for food. Mating season lasts between the months of June to December. The mother will lay three to four eggs and she will incubate the eggs for around 33 days until the eggs hatch. The baby birds will remain in the nest for around 42 days.

Although these birds are uncommon throughout Australia it is believed that their numbers are increasing due to the clearing of land where they hunt. Additional factors such as the increased numbers of galahs, rabbits, and starlings which the Fork-tailed Kite preys on would also likely result in an increase in their numbers.

Further Reading (general information):
Wikipedia: Black kite - Wikipedia
Birdlife: Black Kite | BirdLife Australia
Animalia: Black Kite - Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio

Australian Museum: Black Kite - The Australian Museum