Birdwatching

RED KITE.


A stunning raptor, at distance can look like a flying cross, long, rather narrow wings are often angled back from carpals. Unlike Buzzard, holds wings flat or arched when soaring or gliding, tips may be slightly upturned, wingbeats deep and elastic.






Tail long and deeply forked, often twistend in flight. When fully spread, tail looks much squarer, though usually retains noticeable notch, tail fork can be briefly lost through heavy abrasion although tail corners always appear pointed.





The plumage rich rufous brown, with noticeably paler head. Following features particularly obvious, large, square white patch across inner primaries and bases of outer primaries, brautiful pale orangy tail, striking pale panel across median upperwing coverts, kuvenile as adult, but slightly paler below and slightly better patterned above, with wider anf paler median covert panel, pale tips to greater and primary coverts, and paler uppertail coverts. This raptor Is beautiful to see in nature.....