


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 ~10% in a week ~20%
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 Daintree National Park
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 Daintree National Park
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Black Kite in Daintree National Park?
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Black Kite sighting in Daintree National Park on a given day, based on 59 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 113th most-seen of the 208 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Black Kite in Daintree National Park?
February and October
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black Kite in Daintree National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March–September and November–January, the lowest months.
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 Daintree National Park the best place to see a Black Kite?
82nd of 102
Of the 102 parks where we can rate Black Kite sightings, Daintree National Park ranks 82nd at under 5%. The best odds are in Berenty Reserve (Madagascar, over 90%), Nairobi National Park (Kenya, about 70%) and Nikko National Park (Japan, about 60%). All parks ranked.
Which relatives of the Black Kite live in Daintree National Park?
Same family: Accipitridae
The closest relatives of the Black Kite that you can see in Daintree National Park (family Accipitridae, Hawks, Eagles, and Kites) are Brahminy Kite (about 30%), White-Bellied Sea-Eagle (about 20%) and Whistling Kite (about 20%), 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 Daintree National Park (59 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), 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.


