Red Kite
Milvus milvus
Wingspan 145-165cm

Easily told in flight by long, bowed wings and deeply forked tail, constantly twisted as aid to flight control. Seen perched (A), bird looks reddish with pale grey head; yellow feet and black-tipped yellow bill only visible at close range. Seen from below in flight (B), shows reddish chest, pale grey patches on wings and grey tail; from above, tail looks red and wings brown except for dark flight feathers. Has stronghold in C Wales but successfully reintroduced to several locations in England and S Scotland; population appears to be growing.