Black-winged kites are a common sight in the skies
The black-winged kite is a small and distinctive falconlike kite. It is a common bird of prey and is a small, grey and white raptor with a black shoulder.
THE black-winged kite is the most common raptor in South Africa which is widespread and nomadic with a population estimated at more than 100 000 birds.
They have a varied habitat, mainly grassland and farmland, but also found in woodland, savanna and semi-arid scrub. These kites are solitary or in pairs during the day, gathering at dusk to roost communally from 10 to 300 birds, especially in reedbeds.
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Often seen perching on telephone poles and lines, where they hunt for small diurnal rodents which make up 98% of their diet. They hunt by hovering and parachuting onto prey with wings in a deep V-shape.
The voice is a high pitched whistle “peeeu” a soft “weep” and a rasping “wee – ah”.
Breeding takes place in all the months of the year. The nest is a small platform of sticks, lined with grass, built in the fork of a tree from two to 20m above ground.
Three to four creamy buff coloured eggs are laid. Incubation lasts 30 to 33 days and the nestling period is 30 to 35 days during which they are fed by females only with prey brought by the males.
After leaving the nest they are cared for by the male only for 80 to 90 days. The tribal name is Umdlampuku and in Afrikaans die blouvalk.
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