Where Do Red Kites Live? (Habitat + Distribution)

The red kite is from Eagle Branch family. With a wingspan of nearly 2 meters, these large birds glide gracefully in calm winds and cannot be mistaken when circling over fields, woodlands and urban areas.

Here, we’ll answer a question: where does the red kite live?

The red kite inhabits deciduous broadleaf woodlands but is adapting to semi-urban environments. 95% of the red kite population lives in Europe, mainly in Western and Central Europe, with resident populations in the UK, France, Germany, Belgium and parts of Spain and Italy.

They also inhabit parts of southern Scandinavia, northern Europe to Latvia, and eastern Europe to Ukraine.

These large raptors have become the iconic bird of the Chiltern Mountains and County Home, and you can see them almost everywhere. However, that didn’t change until around the 1990s, when red kite populations increased dramatically due to conservation efforts.

The red kite has become a flagship for bird conservation in the UK, with conservationists saving its population from a few breeding pairs in Wales to more than 5,000 breeding pairs spread across much of the UK.

There’s still a lot to learn about this elegant bird of prey – read on to find out!

Red kite perched on a tree branch in its natural habitat

What is the distribution range of the red kite?

The red kite has a distribution throughout Central and Western Europe, south to Spain, Italy, and Portugal, east to Ukraine and Latvia, and north to southern Sweden.

Some birds stay there year-round, especially in central and western Europe. For example, populations of the English red kite are almost all resident. Migrating red kites travel south to Turkey and North Africa. Homeless people have been found as far south as Gambia, Israel and Libya.

Red kites like to breed in the milder regions of Western Europe, throughout France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Great Britain. Birds heading north and east are more likely to migrate.

The European population accounts for about 95% of the global red kite population, and about half of them live in Germany.

Closeup shot of a red kite flying over a meadow

What is the habitat of the red kite?

Red kites prefer dense broad-leaved deciduous woodlands. Valleys, wetlands and other wild environments are home to the birds’ greatest concentrations, but this adaptable species now lives on the fringes of urban areas.

For example, the Red Kite has made its home in suburban London along the M40 corridor between London, Oxford and Birmingham.

Red kites nest in tall trees 12 to 20 meters or higher. They are kept at relatively low altitudes of 800 meters or less. Red kites are very stealthy unless they are out foraging, in which case they are easy to spot in the sky given their large size and gentle gliding behavior.

Red kite hunting on the field

How rare is it to see a red kite?

In the Midlands of England, Wales and Scotland, red kites are quite common and because they are resident, they can be seen all year round. In winter, red kites can be found on the east and south coasts of England and the west coast of Wales.

Red kites were once ubiquitous in Europe, but faced severe persecution for most of the 300 to 400 years.

In the middle of the 19th century, the number of red kites in Europe dropped by about 30%. For example, populations in the UK have been reduced to just a few breeding birds that are restricted to Wales. In addition to being killed as “pests” (as red kites are scavengers), egg collectors also raid red kite nests for their large eggs.

So, if you go back to the 1950s or so, red kites must have been rare to see in the UK and some parts of Europe.

Fast forward to today, and you might not think these birds were ever extinct in England and Scotland. For example, in parts of the Chiltern Hills, red kites are active year-round and it’s hard not to be seen.

Close up portrait of red kite head

Where does the Red Kite live in the UK?

Red kite populations in the UK are mainly concentrated in central England, but they are becoming more common in the Midlands and East Anglia. The Chiltern Hills were an important stronghold, straddling the homeland of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

There were around 4,000 pairs in central England in 2017, which could make up the majority of the UK population.

Other populations are found in Wales and Scotland, especially Galloway, and parts of the East and Northern Ireland coasts. Red kites have limited populations in northern England, while populations in eastern England have been boosted by migrations arriving from northern Europe in winter.

Red kite flying over Mount Lauriston, Dumfreyshire, Scotland

Where are red kites most common?

Red kites are most abundant in the Chilterns, central Scotland and Galloway, and central and southern Wales. Hometown in the Midlands and the Galloway Kite Trail are two great strongholds where red kites are easy to spot.

Red kites are easily spotted in their home counties and have spread to the M40 corridor. Most of the year you can travel in High Wycombe, Marlow and Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, Thames and Bradenham, Oxfordshire, Finchstead Ridges, Berkshire and Red kites are found in The Chase, between Hampshire and Berkshire.They are also abundant in the Brecon Beacons and much of south and central Wales

Where is the best place to see red kites?

In the UK, the Chiltern Hills in England and the Galloway Kite Trail in Scotland are home to many red kites.

Pinkneys Green, Maidenhead, Watlington Hill, Oxfordshire and Hughenden Park, High Wycombe are three great places to spot red kites around London.

But in reality, the red kite is easily seen throughout the Midlands, along the M40 corridor up the Midlands and west to the Welsh border.

In general, more than half of the red kite populations in Europe live in Germany, where you can find them in most of the country’s dense deciduous woodlands.

Red kite coming in and landing on the ground

Where does the red kite live in winter?

The red kite is distributed over most of central and western Europe and does not migrate for the winter. The British red kite population is non-migratory and remains close to its breeding range throughout the year.

The same is true for the Central European population, which straddles parts of France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Red kites in southern Sweden, Latvia, Ukraine and other parts of northern and eastern Europe tend to fly south in winter.

The wintering birds travel to other parts of central and eastern Europe, and rarely to parts of Turkey, Africa and the Middle East.

Red kite flying in the snow, late winter in central Wales

Where does the red kite live in summer?

Red kites inhabit breeding areas throughout the summer. Red kites breed during the traditional spring breeding season, from late March to around June.

After breeding, red kite parents care for the chicks until they have feathered, which takes a long 60 to 70 days. Young red kites spend most of the winter with their parents until they are ready to be independent.

Where does the red kite go at night?

In winter, red kites roost in groups. Some public habitats consist of more than 100 birds. In the Chiltern Hills, for example, more than 200 birds hover above their woodland habitat in winter. The red kite perches on a high treetop.

Red pups are very sociable, especially compared to other, more reclusive raptor species.

A pair of red kites flying together

How many red kites are there?

There are more than 20,000 breeding red kite pairs or more than 70,000 adult birds in Europe.

In the UK, the RSPB estimates that there are approximately 4,700 breeding red kite pairs or more than 10,000 in the UK. The numbers continue to rise as the red kites disperse from their stronghold in England, Scotland and Wales.

Are red kites endangered?

The red kite is not currently threatened globally, but it was for most of the early and mid-19th century. Persecution has reduced Britain’s population to a few birds in Wales. Around 1970, populations in England and Scotland became extinct.

The reintroduction project has seen the red kite once again make its mark in the skies of the UK and Europe.

Red kite populations in Europe have increased dramatically over the past 40 years or so – the UK’s rising red kite population is seen as a conservation victory. In 1999, the red kite was named “Bird of the Century” by the British Ornithological Foundation.