Yellow-billed Kite

The Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus aegyptius) is the Afrotropic counterpart of the Black Kite (Milvus migrans), of which it is most often considered a... more

by Chris Smith

Title

Yellow-billed Kite

Artist

Chris Smith

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

The Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus aegyptius) is the Afrotropic counterpart of the Black Kite (Milvus migrans), of which it is most often considered a subspecies. However, recent DNA studies suggest that the Yellow-billed Kite differs significantly from Black Kites in the Eurasian clade, and should be considered as a separate, allopatric species.

There are two subspecies: M. a. parasitus, found throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa (including Madagascar), except for the Congo Basin (with intra-African migrations) and M. a. aegyptius of Egypt, south-west Arabia and the Horn of Africa (which disperses south during the non-breeding season).

As suggested by its name, the Yellow-billed Kite is easily recognized by its entirely yellow bill, unlike that of the Black Kite (which is present in Africa as a visitor during the North Hemisphere winter). It is mostly an intra-African breeding migrant, present in Southern Africa July-March. They are found in almost all habitats, including parks in suburbia, but rare in the arid Namib and Karoo. They feed on a wide range of small vertebrates and insects, much of which is scavenged

Uploaded

August 28th, 2013