The Red Kite is unquestionably one of our most elegant raptors, moving with grace and agility which are quite
extraordinary for such a large bird. One never tires of the beautiful sight of it gliding effortlessly and
changing direction with controlled, sweeping movements of its long, forked tail. Its population density in
Switzerland roughly corresponds to the linguistic boundaries: this kite is rare in French-speaking Switzerland
compared to the Black Kite, while the opposite is true in German-speaking Switzerland. Source: Birds of Switzerland
The Black Kite nests in the temperate climate and Mediterranean zones of continental Europe, as well as an
area spanning from North Africa to Central Asia. Black Kites are all migratory. They gather in the Straits of
Gibraltar and the Bosphorus, as well as Israel and Italy, in order to return to their winter home in Sub-Saharan
Africa. The Black Kite is a common migratory bird throughout Switzerland, especially to the north of the Alps,
which it avoids due to its reliance on thermal ascents, preferring to pass along the Plateau. Source: Birds of Switzerland
The Medana Kite is found throughout French-speaking Switzerland, with some forays as far as Ticino. It is the only
Kite that doesn’t migrate, as it gives particular importance to its habitat. By constructing particularly cosy and
waterproof nests, it can stay in our part of the world throughout the year. Its particularly green colour gives
excellent camouflage in its favourite place: the vegetation on the roofs of medana ETANCHEITE SA. Source: Silvio Medana
Ch.
des Champs-Courbes 21
