Red kite / Rotmilan (Milvus milvus)

MerlinBirdId hat gesagt am ehesten ein Schwarz-milan, aber wenn ich Bilder genauer vergleiche, meine ich es ist ein Rotmilan, beim Kopf und Nacken waere der andere viel dunkler. Schade. 2026-03-17 10:12:31 Kaltbrunner-Riet

Observations

First documented observation: 2020-04-13 at the Luppmen. Most recent observation: 2026-04-21 in Wald Fehraltorf.

Description

Classification: Genus Milvus (Milvus); Subfamily True hawks (Accipitrinae); Family Accipitridae (Accipitridae)
General: Deutschland: Brut-, Jahres-, Zugvogel, Wintergast RL V
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: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.
Song attributes: Frequency:
Rotmilan. Luppmen 2020-05-24 16:56:51 ♫ 2020-05-24 16:56:51 Luppmen (song)

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.

XC879195 - Red Kite - Milvus milvus - flight call. ♫ Source: XENOCANTO XC879195 - Red Kite - Milvus milvus - flight call.mp3 (flight call)

Birdweather-Red Kite flight call,start=0.0.

Birdweather-Red Kite flight call,start=0.0. Greater Fehraltorf 2024-08-06 10:05:13 ♫ 2024-08-06 10:05:13 Source: BIRDWEATHER 20240806_100513-Birdweather-Red_Kite flight call,start=0.0.mp3 Greater Fehraltorf (flight call)

2: No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN
Check if red kite begging calls.

Check if red kite begging calls. 2021-08-14 10:02:45 ♫ 2021-08-14 10:02:45 (begging call)

Call attributes: flight call Call melody: simple rhythmic, slow, Frequency: medium (1-5 KHz), Special sounds: swoop.