Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 116, August 2014, pp. 1-23. | Page 9

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of Australasia and Oceania, with the temperate region populations tending to be
migratory. Several subspecies are recognized and formerly had their own
English names. The European populations are small, but the South Asian
population is very large (Wikipedia).

Black Kite (Milvus migrans) flying over the Sacred Mosque in Makkah Al-Mukarramah.
Photo by Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf-von Jaffa. 02.01.2014.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50022881@N00/12026403385/
.01.210.20 . ‫طٌور الحدأة السوداء تطٌر وتحوم حول مآذن الحرم المكً الشرٌف فً مكة المُكرمة . تصوٌر المإلف‬

Black Kites can be distinguished from Red Kites (Milvus milvus) by the slightly
smaller size, less forked tail (visible in flight), and generally dark plumage
without any rufous. The sexes are alike. The upper plumage is brown but the
head and neck tend to be paler. The patch behind the eye appears darker. The
outer flight feathers are black and the feathers have dark cross bars and are
mottled at the base. The lower parts of the body are pale brown, becoming
lighter towards the chin. The body feathers have dark shafts giving it a streaked
appearance. The cere and gape are yellow, but the bill is black (unlike in
the Yellow-billed Kite). The legs are yellow and the claws are black. They have a
distinctive shrill whistle followed by a rapid whinnying call (Wikipedia).
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 116 – August 2014