Foraging behavior of the black-eared kite Milvus migrans lineatus at Victoria Harbour and Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong

Abstract

Black-eared kites Milvus migrans lineatus were observed 122 times over 5 days foraging from Victoria Harbour and Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong. They were found to forage significantly more in Kowloon Bay and take flight paths parallel to the shore, though over the water, at lower altitudes. Their preferential foraging suggests that their food (refuse) may be clumped and not randomly distributed. We tentatively suggest that this species might help identify refuse hotspots in Hong Kong waterways, although we have not drawn a direct link between refuse distribution and kite foraging behavior.

Keywords

• Asia
• black-eared kite
• foraging behavior
• Hong Kong