Red kite / Rotmilan (Milvus milvus)

Wikipedia Vogelwarte BirdLife ZH ornitho.ch bird-song.ch Xeno-Canto BirdID NABU

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

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

Media

Rotmilan nah beim Wildertweiher. 2024-09-09 08:27:59 Wald Fehraltorf Canon EOS R7 200-800mm Shutter speed 10 ISO 2000 Exposure 1/1000	Rotmilan in Flug über einem Feld bei Fehraltorf. 2024-09-05 16:10:51 Fehraltorf Canon EOS R7 200-800mm Shutter speed 10 ISO 800 Exposure 1/1000	Rotmilan im Feld bei Fehraltorf. 2024-09-05 16:10:15 Fehraltorf Canon EOS R7 200-800mm Shutter speed 10.375 ISO 3200 Exposure 1/1250
Rotmilan im Feld bei Fehraltorf. 2024-09-05 16:10:15 Fehraltorf Canon EOS R7 200-800mm Shutter speed 10 ISO 2500 Exposure 1/1000	Rotmilan im Feld bei Fehraltorf. 2024-09-05 16:10:09 Fehraltorf Canon EOS R7 200-800mm Shutter speed 10 ISO 2500 Exposure 1/1000	Rotmilan beobachtet Heu-Erten. 2024-07-25 15:24:24 Fehraltorf Canon EOS R7 200-800mm Shutter speed 83/8 ISO 320 Exposure 1/1250

Rotmilan calling from nest in a large tree Luppmen 2020-05-01 12:13:54 ♫ Rotmilan calling from nest in a large tree 2020-05-01 12:13:54 Luppmen (song)

Additional Images

Rotmilan wird von einem Rabenkrähe verjagt. 2024-11-16 15:35:26 Fehraltorf Canon EOS R7 200-800mm Shutter speed 8.625 ISO 200 Exposure 1/400	Xx Rotmilan in Graubünden. 2024-08-23 13:21:26 Switzerland Canon EOS R7 24-240mm Shutter speed 10 ISO 400 Exposure 1/1000	Rotmilan im Flug zwischen La Sauege und Cudrafin. 2024-05-22 16:04:24 Fanel/Chablais de Cudrefin und La Sauge Canon EOS R7 200-800mm Shutter speed 9.375 ISO 200 Exposure 1/640
Rotmilan beim Wandern, nah bei Büel. 2024-04-30 16:04:04 Tösstal NIKON D5600 ISO 400 Exposure 0.001	Rotmilan beim Wandern, nah bei Büel, ZH. 2024-04-30 16:03:56 Tösstal NIKON D5600 ISO 400 Exposure 0.001	Zwei von etwa fünf kreisenden Rotmilan beim Pfäffikersee. 2024-03-30 17:18:26 Source: OTHER 20240330_171826-DSC_0542 Zwei von etwa fuenf kreisenden Rotmilan beim Pfaeffikersee.JPG Auslikon NIKON D3100 ISO 360 Exposure 1/2000

Additional Audio

Birdweather-Red Kite. Greater Fehraltorf 2024-10-31 14:04:01
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Rotmilan überm Luppman. Greater Fehraltorf 2024-09-06 10:45:40
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Neeracherried 2021-10-24 09:02:17 ♫ 2021-10-24 09:02:17 Neeracherried (song?)

Rotmilan im nest bei Pistolenschützenhaus. Luppmen 2020-05-01 12:13:54
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Web pages with this species:

Trip to Neeracherried with Meia / Spring in Switzerland, 2024 / Summer in Switzerland, 2024 / 4-hour hike from Fischenthal to Wald ZH on the last day of April, 2024 / La Sauge, May 22-23 2024 / Kaltbrunner Riet in a search for migratory birds / Fall and winter at home / Wildertweiher with migratory birds and others, December 2024 / Winter at home / First outing to the Katzenseen lakes near Affoltern, ZH