In this identification video we look at how to separate Black Kite (Milvus migrant) from Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus aegyptius). If you struggle to identify these kites then this video will help.

Identification of Southern African kites is tricky, especially when confronted with juvenile birds.

In this video we look at:
Bill colour.
Eye colour.
Primary "fingers".
Head colour.
Migration paths.
Taxonomy.

As discussed in the video, there are some useful raptor books you can add to your collection including:
Raptors of the world by Ferguson-lees and David Christe.
FLIGHT IDENTIFICATION OF RAPTORS OF EUROPE, NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST by Dick Forsman.
The Raptors of Europe and the Middle East: A Handbook of Field Identification by Dick Forsman.

The link to the 2021 paper on Milvus Kite taxonomy entitled "Phylogeography and demographic history of the black kite
Milvus migrans, a widespread raptor in Eurasia, Australia and Africa" can be found at:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...

We hope you found this Kite identification video useful.

Black Kite thumbnail by Tim Strater.


#simplybirdingafrica #birdidentification