Black Kite

The black kite is a medium-sized bird of prey thought to be the world's most abundant of its family. It is widely distributed through temperate and tropical Eurasia and parts of Australasia and Oceania, and temperate populations tend to migrate. Its angled wings and distinctive forked tail make it easy to identify, and it is vociferous, with a shrill whinnying call (Wikipedia, general species account).

Unlike others of its group it is an opportunistic hunter and often a scavenger, and spends much of its time gliding on thermals in search of food. Several subspecies are recognised, and the South Asian population is comparatively very large. Nationally Least Concern (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).