Milvus

Red Kite ( Milvus milvus)

The kites in the narrow sense (Milvus ) are a genus of birds of prey in the family Accipitridae ( Accipitridae ). The genus contains three species, it is the living almost exclusively in Europe, Red Kite ( Milvus milvus), the spread over large parts of Europe, Asia and Australia Black Kite ( Milvus migrans), as well as those based in Africa, gelbschnabeligen parasites Kite (Milvus aegyptius ). The species rank of a few pairs occurring in Cape Verde MilanArt (Milvus Milvus milvus fasciicauda or fasciicauda ) is controversial.

Kites are medium-sized raptors with long, angled in flight in Carpalgelenk, deeply fingered wings. The strikingly long tail is easily the Black Kite, strongly notched in the red kite. The most gregarious kites are search flight hunters and excellent gliders. They are brownish in color, the head is very bright, sometimes almost white. Kites feed on both live prey and carrion. The nominate of the Black Kite shows a special fondness for fish. The migration strategies of Black Kite and Red Kite are different, they can both long- distance migrants, short-distance migrant and resident birds be. Milvus aegyptius is mostly short-distance migrant, or leads outside the breeding season a nomadic life.

While the population trends of the Black Kite is positive in many parts of Europe to take the stock of the Red Kite in recent years significantly.

Etymology

The name comes from the French word milan Milan and designated there as well, these birds of prey. It is derived from the post-classical Latin milvus, in classical Latin miluus, from.

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