Red Kite: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Hawks and Falcons · day 3 of 7

Five facts

1. A red kite is 60 to 70 cm long, with wings spanning 175 to 195 cm. It soars on long wings and twists its forked tail to steer.
2. The nest sits 12 to 15 m up, in the fork of a big tree. The male fetches dead twigs 30 to 50 cm long, and the female puts them in place.
3. A red kite usually lays one to three eggs, each about 63 g. Each egg hatches after 31 to 32 days.
4. Wandering red kites have turned up as far north as Finland and as far south as Israel, Libya and the Gambia.
5. In Scotland in 2006, a female red kite paired with a male black kite, and together they raised two chicks that flew the nest.

The quiz

1. How wide is a red kite's wingspan?

• 60 to 70 cm
• 17 to 19 cm
• 300 to 350 cm
• 175 to 195 cm (correct)

A red kite has a wingspan of 175 to 195 cm.

2. How high up is a red kite's nest?

• 2 to 3 m
• 12 to 15 m (correct)
• 30 to 50 m
• 1 to 2 m

The nest sits 12 to 15 m up in the fork of a big tree.

3. After how many days do red kite eggs hatch?

• 3 to 4 days
• 13 to 14 days
• 31 to 32 days (correct)
• 63 days

Each egg hatches after 31 to 32 days.

4. Which southern country have wandering red kites reached?

• The Gambia (correct)
• South Africa
• Madagascar
• Australia

Wandering red kites have reached Israel, Libya and the Gambia in the south.

5. Which bird did a female red kite raise two chicks with in Scotland in 2006?

• A male buzzard
• A male osprey
• A male eagle
• A male black kite (correct)

In Scotland in 2006, a female red kite and a male black kite raised two chicks that flew the nest.

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