Common Buzzard or Red Kite – how to tell the difference?

In the UK, the common vulture is often mistaken for a red kite (and vice versa). These birds of prey share similarities, such as their habit of gliding and soaring at high altitudes, their similar meows and fingertips of their wings.

We’ve put together this guide to highlight some of the key differences between the two to help you decide whether you’re looking at a bald eagle or a red kite.

common vulture in flight

red kite in flight (Image credit: @bennicholson_photography Instagram)

Which is more common?

In the UK, you’re more likely to see a bald eagle than a red kite, as the bald eagle is currently the more common and widespread bird of prey.

What is the main difference?

The most obvious difference between red kites and common vultures is their tails. The Common Buzzard has a scalloped tail, while the Red Kite has a forked tail. The red kite is usually the larger of the two birds.

Vultures appear more compact, with shorter necks and wider wings, and sometimes appear to be covered in polished cream. Although usually brown, they have a distinctive pattern on their wings, which can be seen below. To add to the confusion, vulture plumage can vary widely from pale all the way to dark.

Condors tend to flap their wings more in flight and appear steady and direct, while red kites glide and flap their wings occasionally.

Both birds hover at high altitudes and trying to identify them in flight based on their behavior alone is very difficult. The common vulture typically soars with raised wings in a shallow “V” shape, while the red kite soars with bowed wings.

Bald eagles can often be seen perched on fence posts and dead branches for extended periods, especially near woodland where they can nest.

The red kite has a gray head with obvious patterns and a very large wingspan. Their wings are slightly angled in flight, giving it an effortless elegance. The red kite has a long tail, very light when viewed from below, forked and pointed, resembling a triangle when closed. When transmitted, this is more pronounced in adults. Their bodies are reddish on the back and chest.

Although the red kite is less common, there are concentrated populations in England and Scotland where they have been successfully reintroduced. In general, the population appears to be spread across the UK.

Comparing bald eagles and red kites

vulture

Buteo

Other names: common vulture

length:

51cm to 57cm

span:

113cm to 128cm

weight:

550 grams to 1.3 kilograms

learn about bald eagles

red kite

Elk

.

length:

60cm to 66cm

span:

175cm to 195cm

weight:

800 grams to 1.3 kilograms

Learn about red kites