Red kite / Rotmilan (Milvus milvus)

Rotmilan beim Industriegebeit, Fehraltorf. 2025-02-03 16:37:14 Fehraltorf Canon EOS R7 200-800mm Shutter speed 8.625
ISO 200
Exposure 1/400

Observations

First documented observation: 2020-04-13 in Luppmen. Most recent observation: 2025-04-04 in Wildert.

Description

Classification: Genus Milvus (Milvus); Subfamily True hawks (Accipitrinae); Family Accipitridae (Accipitridae)
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]

Seasonal behavior

Year-round bird
Breeding: 04-10 - 07-28
Migration in: 01-20 - 04-30
Migration out: 08-18 - 11-28
More details at Vogelwarte.ch

Other Details

Physical details

Physical details: length=60-66 cm, wingspan=175-195 cm, weight=800-1300 g
Habitats: Agricultural

Vocalisation

Song: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
Rotmilan. Luppmen 2020-05-24 16:56:51
♫
Calls: 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] 1: Etwa vier fallende Noten

XC879195 - Red Kite - Milvus milvus - flight call.
♫

Birdweather-Red Kite flight call,start=0.0. Greater Fehraltorf 2024-08-06 10:05:13
♫
2: Automatically generated from Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN

Check if red kite begging calls. 2021-08-14 10:02:45
♫
Call attributes: flight call Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz), Special sounds: swoop.