


Black Kite
Milvus migrans
Silhouette: PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderAccipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies)
- FamilyAccipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
- GenusMilvus (Milvus Kites)
- SpeciesMilvus migrans (Black Kite)
In 3 days >90%
About the Black Kite
The black kite or fire kite (Milvus migrans) is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors. It is thought to be the world's most abundant species of Accipitridae, although some populations have experienced dramatic declines or fluctuations. Current global population estimates run up to 6.7 million individuals.
Unlike others of the group, black kites are opportunistic hunters and are more likely to scavenge. They spend much of their time gliding in thermals in search of food. Their angled wing and distinctive forked tail make them easy to identify. They are vociferous with a distinct shrill whinnying call.
The black kite is widely distributed through temperate and tropical parts of Eurasia and parts of Australasia and Oceania. Temperate populations tend to be migratory. Several subspecies are recognized, with several having previously had English names. The European populations are small, but the South Asian population is comparatively very large.
The black kite was described by the French polymath Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon in his Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux in 1770. The bird was... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Black Kite in Asansol
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
Cities Where Found
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Islamabad | 🇵🇰 Pakistan | |
| 2 | Visakhapatnam | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 3 | Agra | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 4 | Serrekunda | 🇬🇲 Gambia | |
| 5 | Hajipur | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 6 | Bengaluru | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 7 | Karachi | 🇵🇰 Pakistan | |
| 8 | Srinagar | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 9 | Ranchi | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 10 | Kathmandu | 🇳🇵 Nepal |
Zoos & Centres Where Found
Closest Relatives at Asansol
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Black Kite in Asansol?
Very likely
About 70% of wildlife watchers report a Black Kite sighting in Asansol on a given day, based on 51 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 10th most-seen of the 68 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Black Kite in Asansol?
February and March
In those months about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Black Kite in Asansol on a given day, against about 50% in May, August and December, the lowest months. Those are among Asansol's driest months, with about 20 mm of rain a month against 330 mm in July. June and September have too few records to rate.
What time of day is best to see a Black Kite?
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black Kite sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Is Asansol the best place to see a Black Kite?
44th of 164
Of the 164 cities where we can rate Black Kite sightings, Asansol ranks 44th at about 70%. The best odds are in Islamabad (Pakistan, over 90%), Visakhapatnam (India, over 90%) and Agra (India, about 90%).
Which relatives of the Black Kite live in Asansol?
Same family: Accipitridae
The closest relatives of the Black Kite that you can see in Asansol (family Accipitridae, Hawks, Eagles, and Kites) are Oriental Honey-buzzard (about 30%) and Black-winged Kite (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
Where does the Black Kite sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Black Kite is recorded against all the birds logged in Asansol (51 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.


