With a distinctive forked tail, angled wings and a reddish-brown body, the red kite is a striking and graceful bird of prey. Its body is small compared to its two metre wingspan and this makes it particularly agile with the ability to stay airborne for many hours with great ease.
The red kite was a valued scavenger in the middle ages, helping to keep medieval streets clean. As a result the birds were afforded protection by Royal Decree, the penalty for killing them being death. However, a series of Vermin Acts in the 16th Century saw their status reversed and they were persecuted to near extinction in the late 1700s, only managing to survive in small numbers in mid-Wales. The red kite was successfully re-introduced to Scotland in 1989 and while numbers continue to grow, it remains on the amber list of UK birds of conservation concern.
Red kites are neither particularly strong nor aggressive despite their size. Primarily scavengers and opportunists, they feed on sheep carrion but are not capable of opening up carcasses alone, waiting until more powerful birds have made the first inroads before attempting to feed. However, Red Kites are predators and take a wide variety of live prey, ranging from earthworms to small mammals.
Where to see them
The Scottish population is centred around the release sites in Dumfries and Galloway, Stirling-shire, west Perthshire, and the Black Isle in Ross-shire.
When to see them
All year round.
Page first published on Monday 7th April 2008
Page last updated on Friday 17th October 2008