In Medieval Britain, red kites were common scavengers of the streets of London. Sadly, they were all but eradicated after being labelled as vermin.

Statistics
Red kites have a body length of 61-66cm, a wingspan of 175-195cm and weigh 0.7-1kg.

Physical description
They have dark chestnut-brown backs and lighter brown under-parts. Their long red tails are deeply forked, and they have black beaks and yellow feet. Their tails are grey/white and tipped with black. They have white patches on the undersides of their wings, which are visible in flight.

Distribution
They range across Europe, the Middle East and N. Africa.

Habitat
Red kites prefer deciduous woodland and areas with scattered trees. In the Sixteenth Century, red kites were common scavengers of the streets of London, but this is no longer the case due to heavy persecution.

Diet
Red kites hunt small birds and mammals, and also feed on carrion and at rubbish sites.

Behaviour
They may sometimes gather in large groups at roosts and to feed at good food sources (e.g. rubbish dumps).

Reproduction
Red kites nest in large trees and lay 1-4 eggs (usually 2 or 3) eggs in March-May. The nest is a platform of sticks built in the fork of a tree. The pair may have more than one nest, alternating between them each year. The eggs are incubated by the female for around 32 days. Typically, the male provides the chicks with food, although it is the female that feeds them. The chicks fledge after 50-60 days, but will continue to be fed by the parents for a further 2-3 weeks.

Conservation status
There are some areas in eastern Europe where the numbers of red kites are not accurately known but the western European populations are under threat from persecution and poisoning from rodenticides. In Britain the relict population of wild birds in Wales has recovered well and there are several reintroduction programmes. One in the Chilterns run by English Nature and the RSPB has been particularly successful. There may now be more than 400 breeding pairs.

Voice
Red kites emit a mew-like sound similar to the buzzard, with a long first note that is then rapidly repeated several times.