Young are able to fly at about 30-35 days, but may return to nest to sleep or to be fed for some time after. Later, prey is dropped into nest, and young feed on it themselves. Adults may nest a 2nd time in same season, and if so, young from first nesting may be driven from territory.įemale broods young while they are small male brings food, and female feeds it to nestlings. Young: Female broods young while they are small male brings food, and female feeds it to nestlings. Male usually perches nearby, and brings food to female during incubation. Eggs creamy white, blotched with shades of warm brown. May tend to lay larger clutches in years when rodents are abundant. mostly by flying over open country, pausing frequently to hover and study the ground on sighting prey, it dives, catching prey in its talons. University of New South Wales Press, Sydney, Australia. Australian birds of prey the biology and ecology of raptors. Angus and Robertson, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Birds of prey and ground birds of Australia. Vagrant and extra-limital records accepted by the Birds New Zealand Records Appraisal Committee 2015-2016. Melbourne, Australia: Oxford University Press. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds. Hawks in focus, a study of Australia’s birds of prey. In their native lands, they take advantage of rodent and insect plagues, as well as capturing small birds, mammals and insects fleeing from bush fires and agricultural burn-offs.Ĭupper, J Cupper, L. It will also steal food from other birds. Its diet is mainly carrion but it also includes human refuse, shellfish, fish, small mammals, reptiles, insects and birds. The black kite is a very opportunistic and successful hawk. The decades-long presence of this bird shows that black kites can survive long-term in parts of the New Zealand landscape. In New Zealand, reports of the Renwick black kite indicate that the bird was quite sedentary. When walking, they appear to shuffle along on short legs with their tails held horizontally off the ground. They are able to soar effortlessly to great heights. They are typically gregarious, and are often seen in small to very large flocks. This area of Marlborough has an open landscape and warm climate, similar to areas where these kites live overseas.īlack kites prefer open plains and countryside, in warm to dry, semi-arid to arid areas. This bird was still present near Renwick in early 2015, having presumably been in the area some 23 years, roosting in a group of gums off the Waihopai Valley Road. The single vagrant black kite seen near Renwick in 1992-94 is likely to be the same bird reported there in 2006. There are eight widely scattered records from both the North and South Islands: Renwick, Marlborough (1992-1994, and again 2000-15), Glentanner, Lake Pukaki (1994), Wanaka Airport (1996), various South Auckland localities (2001-2003), Pirinoa, Wairarapa (2002), Inglewood, Taranaki (2009), and near Mercer (2016-17). Widespread and common throughout southern Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. It also lacks the harrier’s distinctive pale rump and long legs. Unlike the harrier, the black kite does not soar with its wings held in a shallow V, but has a more flattened profile. Similar species: the black kite is similar to the much more common swamp harrier. Voice: a high pitched quavering “kwee-err” a staccato “keee-ki-ki-ki” including whistles and squeals. Their flight is very distinctive and buoyant, the tail is continually opening, closing and flexing with the air-currents and when gliding, the carpal joint is often well forward with the wingtips slightly drooped. They are commonly seen gliding, soaring, or quartering the ground in search for food. The soft parts including eyes are yellow. It has a long distinctly forked tail, and the legs and feet are short and weak. The black kite is a medium-sized dark brown hawk with longish rectangular, harrier-like wings, with pale brown across the shoulders. They are excellent soarers, and occasionally cross the Tasman Sea to New Zealand. Black kites will also rob nestlings, steal food from other birds, as well as prey on small birds and insects. They are gregarious and opportunistic, with large flocks sometimes gathering around cattle yards, slaughterhouses and refuse dumps where they scavenge for scraps. The black kite is a very common hawk that occurs widely throughout Australia, Africa and Asia.
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