Black Kite Milvus migrans

The Black Kite is not black but dark brown, with a light grey head characteristic of kites; it lacks the rufous-brown plumage of its larger cousin, the Red Kite. Black Kites are found over much of Europe (not UK except rare migrants or feral) and Asia. They generally eat insects and carrion/refuse with some small live prey. Photo above right of kite with a fish is from Dr Harsha Vardhan Reddy.

In flight the tail is wedge-shaped or slightly concave but less-forked than that of the Red Kite.

Although kites have feathered legs, the legs are slender, unlike the thick trousered legs of eagles . . .

. . . which assists the kites with their extreme agility in flight.

The grey head

All above are the nominal subspecies European Black Kite M. m. migrans which spend northern summer in Eurasia and northern winter in Africa. The Asian subspecies is also called the Black-eared Kite and often treated as a full species - see link below.