Dave Taylor's African Safari: Trophic Level III: Omnivores and Small Carnivores - Black Kite

Trophic Level III: Omnivores and Small Carnivores
Black Kite
Page 33

Milvus migrans (parasitus)

Length: 55 cm (22")

Status: Common

Habitat: The black kite is found in savannas and watery areas. There are two races that are similar in appearance. One migrates to Europe and the other is resident.

Food: Black kites eat rats, small birds, fish and large insects. They can be quite bold and, in Ngorongoro Crater, they will swoop down on picnickers and steal their lunch. They are superb fliers and can dive, swoop and twist in the air with speed and grace.

These kites will fly along the edge of grass fires and grab fleeing insects that take to the air to escape the flames.

They will also scavenge at kills and where carcasses are found on the plains. They will snatch up the small, dead animals that most vultures would ignore.

Social System/Behavior: Black kites are occasionally seen in huge flocks numbering several thousand. Most flocks, especially those seen in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, consist of only 20 to 30 birds.

Pairs return to the same nest year after year. The small stick nest is lined with dung, rags and other rubbish that they collect from dumps where they scavenge food.

The female lays two eggs and does most of the incubation. The male feeds her. Incubation takes between five and six weeks. The birds fledge five or six weeks later. Often, both chicks are raised successfully.

Predators: Other large raptors are the most frequent predators of kites. Human beings are their worst enemy. Farmers that set poisoned baits on their land to kill jackals often kill these scavenging birds.

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