Black Kite: Distribution and Seasonal Behaviour In Ghana

What is in this article?

Habitat preference of the black kite

Seasonal behaviour in Ghana

Distribution of Black Kite in Ghana

Image captured at Damongo

With its long, angled wings and forked tail, the Black Kite is one of the world’s most widespread and recognisable raptors. It is almost always seen soaring over open landscapes and human settlements. It is highly adaptable to a wide range of environments. According to GBIF data, the species is observed across Africa, extending through Europe, Asia, Australia, and even the Americas.

The Black kite has several subspecies: (European Black Kite) and lineatus (Black-eared Kite) in Asia, the Indian govinda (Pariah Kite), the Australasian affinis (Fork-tailed Kite), and the African aegyptius (Yellow-billed Kite)

See the map below:

Common Name: Yellow Billed Kite

Scientific Name: Milvus aegyptius

Micro-habitat Preference:

Savanna, woodland, and coastal regions: These are their preferred habitats because they offer steady food sources and good nesting spots in tall trees.

Urban and suburban areas: The Yellow-billed Kite is highly adaptable. It is one of the few raptors that comfortably lives around people, and it is very common in towns and cities across Ghana.

Wetlands and aquatic areas: I have also noticed them hovering around sewage ponds and dumps with standing water. They patrol these spots, probably looking for mice, frogs, or small fish to snatch.

Seasonal Behaviour in Ghana:

Ghana has only two major seasons, the rainy season (roughly May to July, with a short return in September–October) and the dry season (November to March/April). Even though the Yellow-billed Kite is known as a migrant across Africa, in Ghana, it is seen year-round. What changes is their abundance:

Dry Season (Nov – Mar/Apr): During this period, Yellow-billed Kites appear in very high numbers across the country.

Rainy Season (May – July, Sept – Oct):

The majority of them migrate to other African countries, with a few being left behind.

Conservation Concerns: The Yellow-billed kite is of least concern

Distribution of Black Kite in Ghana:

Kernel density heat map showing areas with the highest concentrations of Black Kite records in Ghana.

This distribution map was created using data from GBIF, based on records submitted by birdwatchers. The red and yellow areas represent locations with the highest number of submitted sightings, not the number of individual birds, but the number of recordings from those areas, that is, the density of the recorded coordinates in the area.

This provides a general overview of the Yellow-billed Kite’s distribution. As the map shows, they are widely distributed across the country.

Submitted Sightings of Black Kite In Ghana

Image taken at the Legon Botanical Gardens

Image taken at Mole National Park

Citations:

GBIF.org (3 December 2025) GBIF Occurrence Download https://doi.org/10.15468/dl.8qdve7