Black Kite

Why in News?

Recently, an article suggested that black kites have nesting habitats at a tower structure in Chennai.

• Black Kite – It is a bird of prey and a migratory bird extends to an extremely large range of habitats.
• Scientific Name – Milvus migrans.
• It is often called Fork-Tailed Kites.
• Habitat – Close access to water bodies such as rivers, ponds, lakes, and wetlands, woodlands, grassland and open savannas.
• Distribution – Tropical portions of Australasia, Eurasia, and Africa.
• Morphology – Medium-sized raptors, dorsal, ventral and tail color is brown  with darker brown striped feathers within.
• It has small, bead-like dark brown eyes and a large black, hook-shaped beak, long black talons and pale-yellow legs.

• Sexual dimorphism
  • Female – It has a slightly larger body size than males, though they feature similar coloration.
• Characteristic – It typically lives in social groups.
• It migrates from Europe and northern Asia wintering in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia.
• It has well developed intraspecific communication and very loud vocalizing.
• Diet – An extremely versatile feeder, it takes carrion, birds, mammals, fish, lizards, amphibians, invertebrates and forage on vegetable matter such as palm oil fruits.
• Threats – Poisoning
  • Shooting
  • Electrocution by power lines
  • Pollution of water by pesticides and other chemicals
  • Vulnerable to the effects of wind energy development.
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN – Least Concern.
  • CITES – Appendix II.
  • Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 – Schedule-II.

References

1. The Hindu| Nesting activity by Black kites
2. ABW| Black kite’s Habitat & Distribution
3. Birdlife| Black kite’s Diet, Threats & Conservation