Brahminy Kite

This month, we feature the Brahminy Kite. The name is derived from the Brahmin caste of India, and in some beliefs these birds are sacred because of their association with the God Vishnu. To the Iban of Malaysia they are the Bird-Gods of war. Amongst other names, they are also known as the Red-Backed Sea Eagle, the White-Headed Sea-Kite, the Whistling Kite and the Singapore Bald Eagle. The scientific name is Haliastur indus.

Their wide geographic range is the coastal and watery areas of India, eastwards through Indonesia and on to north-eastern Australia and southern China. They can be seen hunting, often by low-level quartering, along beaches, mangrove swamps and coral reefs. Inland they will be found by rivers, lakes, marshes and rice paddies. Prey near the water surface is snatched with their talons; there is no plunging. Their diet is quite wide-ranging, including fish, frogs, crabs and snakes. They will also take small mammals and birds, and can catch and eat insects on the wing. Scavenging is another important method of finding food for them, and they will search out carrion from road verges and rubbish tips, and get offal from boats and harboursides.

Brahminy Kite in low-level flight

Brahminy kites prefer to nest in tall Mangrove trees where they build an untidy nest of sticks with grass and seaweed and sometimes flotsam. The clutch is normally 2 eggs, which take 28-35 days to incubate. The young are fledged at 7 to 8 weeks. Both parents are involved in raising the young and will reuse the nest in following years.

Brahminy Kite - Percy

The status of these birds varies by area. Being unfussy eaters and tolerant of humans makes them common in some places, but habitat loss, particularly suitable trees for nesting, is a threat. They are also considered pests because of their preference for raiding fish and prawn farms and are persecuted as a result; some are taken as pets.

Here at the Hawk Conservancy, we were one of the first places in the world to successfully breed the birds. Following the sad death last year of our distinguished Brahminy Kite, Sir Percival, we have two new performers for this season. They are Woodfrey and Figaro who were both bred here and have previously been loaned to other collections. They are rapidly gaining experience in flying for the public and, whilst having a hard act to follow, will be starring players in the Valley of the Eagles displays this year. They will be seen exhibiting their typically agile and buoyant low-level flight over the audience, and showing off their catching prowess when food is tossed up into the air for them.

The statue in Eagle Square

The statue in Eagle Square

So important is this species to the traditions of parts of its range that the islands of Langkawi, off the western coast of Malaysia are believed to be named after it. Dataran Lang (Eagle Square) is Langkawi's most prominent landmark for visitors arriving by sea. Located near the Kuah jetty, the focal point of the square is the imposing statue of the reddish brown eagle majestically poised for flight.

According to local tradition, Langkawi derived its name from the eagle or "helang". In old Malay, "kawi" meant a reddish brown colour - hence, Langkawi means reddish brown eagle.