Red kite / Rotmilan (Milvus milvus)

Im Baum am Pfäffikersee 2020-05-20 08.58.48 Pfäffikersee
Classification: Genus Milvus; Subfamily True hawks (Accipitrinae); Family Accipitridae
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Geography: Very common here in the summer, I've seen up to 30 on a freshly plowed field, and you can seldom look up without seeing one. (You should look closely though, as they'll often circle in the air with buzzards.)They migrate to Spain in the winter, but increasing numbers stay here.Elsewhere in Europe they've been decreasing, while here they've become so successful that young birds have trouble finding a territory of their own. Wikipedia mentions them competing with the black kite, which I've never identified locally, so perhaps that's part of the key to their success. [Link]
Vocalization: Mainly heard in breeding season. A piercing long whistle, quickly ascending, then descending "piuuu". Often used in movies to give an eerie wildlife mood. [Link]
Calls: Differs from Black Kite in being a clear whistle all the way through the call, without "shivering". Higher pitched than Buzzard, and with less pause between calls. [Link]
Physical details: length=60-66 cm, wingspan=175-195 cm, weight=800-1300 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Call: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording

♫ Rotmilan. 2020-05-24 16.56.51 Luppmen (song?)

Presence: 01-01 - 12-31
Breeding: 04-10 - 07-28
Migration in: 01-20 - 04-30
Migration out: 08-18 - 11-28
First documented observation : 2020-04-13 in Luppmen.