Red Kite (Milvus milvus) sitting on post

The red kite (Milvus milvus) is a medium-large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards, and harriers. Red kites are 60 to 70 cm long with a 175–179 cm (69–70 in) wingspan. They are elegant birds, soaring on long wings, with a long forked tail that twists as it changes direction. The red kite's diet consists mainly of small mammals such as mice, voles, shrews, young hares and rabbits. It feeds on a wide variety of carrion including sheep carcasses and dead game birds. Live birds are also taken and occasionally reptiles and amphibians. Earthworms form an important part of the diet, especially in spring. In the United Kingdom red kites were widespread scavengers that lived on carrion and rubbish. By the 20th century the breeding population was restricted to a handful of pairs in South Wales, but recently the Welsh population has been supplemented by re-introductions in England and Scotland. In the south of England a population along the M40 motorway in the Chilterns has expanded past Reading and Basingstoke down to the New Forest.