Yellow-billed Kite

Yellow-billed Kite
Milvus aegyptius parasitus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Falconiformes (or Accipitriformes, q.v.)
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Milvus
Species:	M. aegyptius
Binomial name
Milvus aegyptius Gmelin, 1788
Subspecies
M. a. aegyptius M. a. parasitus

The Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus aegyptius) is the Afrotropic counterpart of the Black Kite (Milvus migrans), of which it is most often considered a subspecies. However, recent DNA studies suggest that the Yellow-billed Kite differs significantly from Black Kites in the Eurasian clade, and should be considered as a separate, allopatric species.^[1]

There are two subspecies: M. a. parasitus, found throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa (including Madagascar), except for the Congo Basin (with intra-African migrations) and M. a. aegyptius of Egypt, south-west Arabia and the Horn of Africa (which disperses south during the non-breeding season).

Description

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

As suggested by its name, the Yellow-billed Kite is easily recognized by its entirely yellow bill, unlike that of the Black Kite (which is present in Africa as a visitor during the North Hemisphere winter). However, immature Yellow-billed Kites resemble the corresponding age of the Black Kite.

Status

At Tsimbazaza Zoo, Madagascar

In flight

It is mostly an intra-African breeding migrant, present in Southern Africa July–March and sometimes as late as May. It is generally common.

Habitat and feeding

They are found in almost all habitats, including parks in suburbia, but rare in the arid Namib and Karoo. They feed on a wide range of small vertebrates and insects, much of which is scavenged.

References

1. ^ Jeff A. Johnson, Richard T. Watson and David P. Mindell (2005) Prioritizing species conservation: does the Cape Verde kite exist? Proc. R. Soc. B 272: 1365–1371 [1]