Page 49 - World of Animals - Deadly Predators

Kites

MISSISSIPPI KITE 11. How do kites steal food?
7. How deadly Ictinia mississippiensis © Thinkstock Some kites simply swoop in
Lifespan 8 years
are red kites? Adult weight 215-290g and take carcasses from other
(7.6-13.7oz)
predators or make off with them
Red kites, Britain’s only kites, Conservation status when they’re left unguarded. The
aren’t particularly deadly. They feed whistling kite is known to hassle
mainly on animals that are already waterbirds until they regurgitate
LEAST CONCERN their meals.
dead, as their feet are too weak to
do any real harm to large mammals,
and small birds easily outmanoeuvre © Getty
them. If no carrion can be found, red
kites will seek out and catch small
animals like mice, worms, chicks and
young rabbits.

8. How far will a kite

go to get food?
Black kites are often seen catching
insects and lizards near campfires
and bonfires, but it appears they’re
willing to take things a step further
in pursuit of a good meal. Australian BRAHMINY KITE 10. How do they hunt?
Haliastur indus Like the red kite, many kite species find most
black kites have reportedly been Lifespan Unknown
seen carrying blazing branches Adult weight 320-670g of their food by scavenging or by stealing
from other predators. Most, though, do have
away from bushfires and dropping (11.3-24oz)
Conservation status the ability to catch live food if they have
them onto patches of dry grassland no other option. Small birds can be caught
away from the original fire before and eaten mid-air without the kite slowing
picking off the animals that flee the down or pausing, while worms and other
LEAST CONCERN
spreading flames. invertebrates are plucked from the ground.

9. Why is the kite’s beak curved?
A sharp, curved beak allows the birds to 12. Why do kites have forked tails?

tear into flesh and pick around bones. While some have wedge-shaped
The snail kite and the slender-billed kite tails, many kite species have tail

have unusually deep curves for catching feathers arranged in a forked
and eating aquatic snails. shape. These forked tails act like
rudders when the birds are in
flight, changing their direction as
© Thinkstock they twist.

© Getty

14. Do kites
kill livestock?
It’s unlikely that
a kite is to blame
13. Are there any when large pets
myths or legends
about kites? or livestock
are killed or go
While they don’t
missing, but they
feature as heavily
as eagles or hawks, will occasionally
try to catch
kites do pop up
young chickens
in a few stories.
and pheasants.
Aesop featured
kites as villains or
flawed characters
RED KITE
Milvus milvus in at least two of his 15. What does a kite sound like?
Lifespan Up to 26 years, but fables due to their
usually around 4 years nature as hunters Despite their majestic appearance and
Adult weight 800g-1.3kg and scavengers. The
(28.2-45.9oz) Egyptian god Isis was soaring flight, kites have rapid high-
Conservation status
sometimes depicted pitched mewing calls. Some species
taking the form of
a kite to resurrect are even described as sounding like
NEAR THREATENED people from the dead.
squeaky dog toys.

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