Black Kite and Yellow-billed Kite
Milvus migrans and Milvus aegyptius
Geelbekwou SchmarotzermilanThe Black Kite is a summer visitor from Eurasia, distinguished from the Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus aegyptius) by a black tipped yellow beak. DNA research shows that the Afrotropic Yellow-billed Kite is distinct from the Black Kite and thus elevated to full species status. The yellow-billed Kite has an all yellow beak.

Black Kite
© Hennie Storm

Black Kite loving the Rain
at Albert Falls Dam © Wayne Johnston

Yellow-billed Kite
© Mark Drysdale

Yellow-billed Kite
© Basie van Zyl

Yellow-billed Kite

© Tinus Lamprecht

Yellow-billed Kite
Elephant Sands Lodge, Botswana © Derek Keats



Yellow-billed Kite Hluhluwe
© Bob Hobbes

Yellow-billed Kite
Lake Eland © Bob Hobbes