Bird
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🦅
Size
60–66 cmLarger than a Buzzard, with a much longer forked tail
Weight
750 g–1.6 kgAbout the weight of a pineapple
Lifespan
10 years
Rarity
Common
M vs F
Sexes look very similar; females are slightly larger
Habitat
Open woodland, valleys, farmland, increasingly suburban — soars on thermals over any open land
Best time
Year-round
Conservation
UK: Green
LC
💡 Did you know?
Red Kites were reintroduced to England in 1989 using birds from Wales — one of Britain's greatest conservation success stories, now numbering over 10,000
Kites decorate their nests with unusual items — litter, plastic bags, socks, and underwear have all been recorded. This appears to signal nest quality to potential mates
Often confused with
Buzzard (shorter rounded tail
no rusty-red)
Marsh Harrier (long wings
no forked tail)
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