Bird
Yellow-billed Kite
Milvus aegyptiusAlso known as Afrotropical Black Kite
Yellow-billed kites are buoyant, highly adaptable raptors recognized by their deeply forked tails and bright yellow beaks. They navigate African skies with masterly agility, using thermal currents to soar over savannas, highways, and bustling urban centers. Scavengers and skilled opportunists, these birds gather in impressive flocks around grass fires, fishing sites, and open-air markets to snatch food right off the ground or on the wing.
RaptorMigratoryScavenger
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyTermites, Small rodents, Fish
Predators
- Large owls
- Eagles
ThreatsPoisoned baits aimed at predators, powerline electrocution, and direct persecution
HabitatsSavannas, open woodlands, coastal shores, farmlands, and urban areas
Life span15–25 years
Classification
- OrderAccipitriformes
- FamilyAccipitridae
- GenusMilvus
- SpeciesMilvus aegyptius
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Watch overhead near riverbanks, harbors, or open markets where they wheel on thermal updrafts.
- Identification: Look for the solid bright yellow bill on adults to distinguish them from wintering Eurasian Black Kites.
- Photography: Use a fast shutter speed to capture their acrobatic aerial dives as they snatch scraps mid-air.
Competitor Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Co-occurring Raptor (c) Derek Keats, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Joshua S. Martin · cc0
Close Relative Thomas Kraft (ThKraft) / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
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Mystic Meadows
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