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Black Kite Look-alike in Buckinghamshire

This interesting Juvenile RED KITE was at Watermead today, with a superficial resemblance to Black Kite, mostly due to the tail shape & wing shape - though this is most likely due to an odd moult.

Juvenile RED KITE resembling Black Kite

These are the features that made the bird stand out from the other Red Kites about...

  • dark, slightly convex tail (rather than concavely forked) with lighter upper-tail coverts
  • broad, square wings
  • 6 ‘fingers’/P5 quite long (though missing P5 on right wing)
  • P9 longer than P7
  • not much orange tone, even less obvious with bright sky behind
  • from above even the head appears darker than expected for Red Kite

On closer inspection the tail is a bit too red & white 'windows' on the underwing too defined, the head is typical of Red Kite, but most obvious of all is how pale the bird's underside is - diagnostic to juvenile Red Kite. I can imagine this bird being reported as a Black Kite if care isn't taken in identification.

Juvenile RED KITE
resembling Black Kite

Juvenile RED KITE
resembling Black Kite

Juvenile RED KITE
resembling Black Kite

Juvenile RED KITE
resembling Black Kite


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Experiences with wonderful wildlife in the stunning scenery of The Chilterns AONB. Focusing on British birds, butterflies, dragonflies & damselflies, mammals, & more.

Led by Nature Guide DAN FORDER WILDLIFE, we run Corporate Wildlife Photography Activity Days & Guided Wildlife Tours in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire & Oxfordshire, & are based in the North Chiltern Hills & Vale of Aylesbury, South-East England, not far from London.

We also offer Environment & Wildlife Talks & Workshops, as well as species identification & conservation advice, environmental consultation & ecological surveys.

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