The black kite is set to breed in the UK for the first time
Black kites are set to breed in the UK for the first time, thanks to the warmer climate.
The brown raptor — known for its wide five-foot wing spans and long talons — is one of the world's most successful scavengers, but has never been seen before in Britain. Commonly, the large bird of prey is spotted in Australian mainland, as well as Africa, Asia and Europe.
New research conducted by the British Trust of Ornithology (BTO) found that black kites are one of the 10 birds set to colonise the UK if the rising temperatures are set to continue.
"At the moment, the Loire Valley in France is about as far north as you expect them to be breeding. There's a lot of overshoot in spring but they don’t seem to stay around for long. However, if two should arrive together there’s a good chance they could stop and nest in the UK," David Tomlinson, bird expert told the Independent.
"There will be no problem with them surviving in the UK. If it wasn't for the Channel, I’m sure that these birds would already be nesting here," he added.
"If we do get one or two birds they’re a very colonial species and successful at breeding so their offspring might well come back and found a small colony."
According to Gareth Cunningham, the RSPB's head of nature policy, the birds are unlikely to have any conflict of interest with existing birds of prey. Gareth explains that the kites arriving in the UK could be a result of natural migrations.
Where is the black kite found?
The black kite is often found in a variety of habitats, from open plains to timbered watercourses and outback towns in Australia. While they are normally seen in small groups, the black kite is known for occasionally forming large flocks with thousands of other birds.
The birds are not to be confused with their cousins: the similar-looking red kite, which are often spotted in the UK. From a distance, the black kite appears completely black but it has a light brown bar on its shoulder.
As well as hunting near lakes and rivers, they are known for flying close to areas where they can find plenty of prey. Similar to the red kites, they pick up dead or sick animals to feed on.
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