Class: AVES

Order: ACCIPITRIFORMES

Family: ACCIPITRIDAE

Genus: MILVUS

Species: AEGYPTIUS [formerly MIGRANS]

This bird of prey was long considered to be of the same species as the Black Kite, Milvus migrans. It was classified as two sub-species - M. m. aegyptius, found in Northern Africa and areas of the Middle East, and M. m. parasitus, found in much of Sub-Saharan Africa. The two birds share many morphological similarities, and are largely identical with the exception that where the Black Kite has its beak partially black, the Yellow-billed Kite’s beak is entirely yellow. More recent evidence suggests that the Yellow-billed Kite is worthy of status as a full species. Results from phylogenetic analysis of genetic material shows interesting result – one study analysed 8 samples – two from South Africa, one from Madagascar, one from Sao Tome, one from the Congo, one from Cameroon, one from Senegal, and one from Nigeria. The samples seemed to form veritable clades – The birds of South Africa being most closely related to those of Madagascar, and the rest of the samples being more closely related to each other than to these two samples – with of these the samples from Congo and Cameroon being most closely related to each other - making the samples non-monophyletic. These interesting genetic results indicate that the yellow-billed kite is worthy yet of more taxonomic research, as well as analysis of its natural history – though many authorities have yet to recognise it as its own species.

Yellow-billed kites are found throughout much of Africa, except for the extreme North and west-central, as well as the islands of Madagascar, Comoros, and Mayotte. It is also found in areas of Saudi Arabia and Yemen. They are found in a wide range of habitats – though rarely found in arid environments. Their diet is varied, consuming various small animals including insects and amphibians – as well as small mammals. Their nest is rough and rounded, and is usually found in trees. The IUCN does not believe the species to be in any significant danger.