
Yellow-billed Kite
The black kite (Milvus migrans) is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors.
Species insights
Recorded year-round
Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.
Curve from 3,163 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property and not from this province. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
KwaZulu-Natal and beyond
Provinces where Yellow-billed Kite is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
3,165 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Yellow-billed Kite
Stays that give back
Across the Western Cape
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Gemsbok · Greater kudu
Gives back to Wolwekraal Nature Reserve
From R 5,060 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to Pietersfontein Conservancy
From R 1,155 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Black wildebeest · Bontebok
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 5,636 a night
Yellow-billed Kite recorded here · Fynbos biome · Southern right whale
From R 4,640 a night
Yellow-billed Kite recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,180 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Yellow-billed Kite recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 220 a night
Yellow-billed Kite recorded here · Forest biome
From R 2,170 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Southern right whale
Price on request
Yellow-billed Kite recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 680 a night
Yellow-billed Kite recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 180 a night
Reliably seen · Birder friendly · Fynbos biome
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
Price on request
Yellow-billed Kite recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 300 a night
Yellow-billed Kite recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,460 a night
Yellow-billed Kite recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
From R 1,750 a night
Yellow-billed Kite recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Spekboom
From R 1,750 a night
Yellow-billed Kite recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,990 a night
Yellow-billed Kite recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,990 a night
Yellow-billed Kite recorded here · Fynbos biome · Spekboom
From R 1,780 a night
Yellow-billed Kite recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,500 a night
Yellow-billed Kite recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,430 a night
Yellow-billed Kite recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,430 a night
Yellow-billed Kite recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,430 a night
Yellow-billed Kite recorded here · Fynbos biome
From R 1,580 a night
Stellenbosch and Franschhoek vineyards, an hour up the N1
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Yellow-billed Kite
Hosts have recorded the Yellow-billed Kite at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve and Rocherpan Nature Reserve.
Best hours of the day
- Late morning to mid-afternoon. Raptors soar once the sun raises thermals.
- Early morning. Often perched while the air warms.
Ways to look
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.
Where hosts record it
Species
Milvus migrans
Records
3,165
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Yellow-billed Kite on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Yellow-billed Kite in Western Cape?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Yellow-billed Kite at stays in or beside Cederberg Wilderness Area, Goukamma Nature Reserve, Rocherpan Nature Reserve, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve and Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve and other reserves. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.
Where can you see the Yellow-billed Kite in South Africa?
The Yellow-billed Kite is most recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (40% of records), Western Cape (37% of records), Mpumalanga (9% of records), based on 3,165 iNaturalist observations. 43 places to stay on Spekboom in Western Cape have recorded the Yellow-billed Kite on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Yellow-billed Kite?
The Yellow-billed Kite is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Cederberg Wilderness Area: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct; Goukamma Nature Reserve: year-round, warm Oct-Apr; Rocherpan Nature Reserve: Winter and spring for birds and flowers, Jun-Oct; De Hoop Nature Reserve: Sep-Apr, flowers Aug-Oct. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Yellow-billed Kite?
The black kite (Milvus migrans) is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors. It is thought to be the world's most abundant species of Accipitridae, although some populations have experienced dramatic declines or fluctuations. Current global population estimates run up to 6 million individuals.



























