Merlot, Red Kite
Latin Name
Milvus milvus
Family
Accipitridae
LIFE SPAN
Wild: A red kite that reaches breeding age has a typical life expectancy of approximately four years, although many live considerably longer. The British Trust for Ornithology records a maximum age of 25 years, eight months and 28 days for a ringed red kite in Britain and Ireland.
Captivity: Red kites can live for more than 25 years when provided with appropriate nutrition, accommodation and veterinary care. Captive individuals have been documented living for at least 26 years.
Body size
Red kites are large but relatively lightweight birds of prey, with long, angled wings and distinctive deeply forked tails. Females are generally slightly larger and heavier than males.
- Weight: Males approximately 800–1,200g (1.8–2.6 lb); females approximately 1,000–1,300g (2.2–2.9 lb).
- Height/body length: Approximately 60–66cm (23.6–26 in).
- Wingspan: Approximately 175–195cm (5.7–6.4 ft).
Despite having a wingspan approaching two metres, an adult red kite usually weighs little more than one kilogram.
Native habitat
Red kites are native primarily to Europe, with smaller populations extending into northwestern Africa and parts of western Asia. Important breeding populations are found in the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden and several countries across Central and Eastern Europe.
Some northern and eastern populations migrate south and west during the winter, while many red kites in Britain and western Europe remain within the same general area throughout the year.
Red kites favour landscapes combining mature trees for nesting with open areas for feeding. Suitable habitats include:
- Farmland
- Open countryside
- Woodland edges
- Valleys and low hills
- Grassland and pasture
- Heathland
- Wetlands and river valleys
- Towns and suburban areas
They usually build their nests high in mature trees, often reusing an old crow or buzzard nest. Red kites may decorate their nests with wool, paper, fabric, plastic and other unusual objects collected from the surrounding area.
Diet
Red kites are carnivorous but are primarily scavengers. Carrion forms an important part of their diet, including roadkill and the remains of dead mammals and birds.
They also eat live prey such as:
- Mice and voles
- Young rabbits
- Small birds
- Amphibians
- Fish
- Beetles and other insects
- Earthworms
Compared with many other birds of prey, red kites have relatively weak feet and talons. They are therefore better adapted to collecting carrion and small or vulnerable animals than overpowering large, healthy prey.
Red kites search for food by soaring over open ground and using their excellent eyesight to inspect the landscape below. When food is spotted, they descend and snatch it from the ground, sometimes eating smaller items while still in flight.
Get to know Merlot
Merlot is a wonderfully vocal bird who has overcome a difficult period in her life. While on loan to another collection, she developed a serious wing infection that was not treated as promptly as it should have been.
Since returning to Coda Falconry, she has received extensive veterinary treatment, rehabilitation and plenty of dedicated care to help her recover and fly confidently again.
Merlot can be a little shy around unfamiliar people, but she continues to grow in confidence and now flies to guests during our experience days.
Fun Fact!
Red kites were once widespread across Britain and could even be found scavenging in towns and cities. Centuries of persecution caused their population to collapse, and by the 1930s only a handful of breeding pairs remained in a small area of Wales.
A major conservation and reintroduction programme began in 1989, releasing birds in the Chilterns and northern Scotland. Further projects followed across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
These efforts transformed the red kite’s fortunes. The species can now be seen across much of Wales and central and eastern England, as well as parts of northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is regarded as one of the UK’s most successful bird conservation stories.