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Occurrence of the Red Kite 
Milvus milvus in Slovenia
Pojavljanje rjavega škarnika 
Milvus milvus v Sloveniji
Dejan Bordjan1
1 Oddelek za gozdarstvo in obnovljive gozdne vire, 
Biotehniška fakulteta, Univerza v Ljubljani, Večna 
pot 83, SI–1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia 
The Red Kite is a bird of prey that breeds almost 
exclusively in Europe (BirdLife International 
2004). Globally, as well as in Europe, it has the 
status of a near threatened species (BirdLife 
International 2015). The population as a whole 
has been in decline for almost three generations 
(BirdLife International 2004, 2015). Western 
and southern European populations are resident, 
but most birds in the northeast are migratory 
(BirdLife International 2017).
Although the Red Kite was present in Slovenia 
in historical times, most authors agree that it is a rare 
species with only few observations and specimens 
in museum collections (Schulz 1890, Schiavuzzi 
1883, Reiser 1925). It was assumed to be a breeder 
(Geister 1995) and an extremely rare winter visitor 
(Sovinc 1994). In the early 1990s it was listed as 
a rare bird in the breeding and wintering periods 
by the National Rarities Committee (Komisija za 
redkosti 1993). Although it occurs more often 
during migration, it was listed as a rare visitor in 
overviews of birds on Ljubljansko barje (Tome 
et al. 2005), at Medvedce reservoir (Bordjan & 
Božič 2009), at Lake Cerknica (Bordjan 2012b), 
at Vrbje fishpond (Gamser & Novak 2013), in 
Ljubljana and surrounding areas (Tome et al. 
2013) and at Sečovlje saltpans (Škornik 2012). An 
increased number of sightings was reported only 
for the Medvedce reservoir (Bordjan 2012a). Due 
to the low number of sightings at individual sites, 
the phenology of the species in Slovenia has so far 
been missing, nor has there ever been an overview 
of the species' occurrence.
Data for the present review were collected from 
the journal Acrocephalus, from the online database 
Atlas ptic NOAGS (http://http://atlas.ptice.si/
atlas), from online birding groups, online photo 
galleries and directly from observers.
Between 1977 and January 2017, 117 
records of 121 individuals were made. 113 of the 
observations concerning single individuals. Two 
individuals were observed together only four 
times. Most observations concerned migratory 
birds  and only few records individuals present for 
more than one day. In 2009 and 2010, at least one 
individual was present at the Vodovnik farmhouse 
near Topolšica from April till October and 
November, respectively (I. Jelenko pers. comm.). 
Despite being present during the entire breeding 
season, breeding was not confirmed. Longer stays 
were also recorded at Savska loka near Dolsko 
(Trontelj 2008), in the SE part of Ljubljansko 
barje (Šere 2015, Atlas ptic 2017) and at Lake 
Šoštanj (Čelik 1993).  
The number of annual records has been rising 
from 1980 onwards (Figure 1; RSpearman: 0.71; p < 
0.001; df = 36). In the 1980s, on average less than 
one Red Kite was observed per year, 1.1 in the 1990s 
and 3.0, between 2000 and 2009, while, after 2009, 
9 Red Kites were observed each year. Red Kites 
were observed in all months of the year with the 
fewest observations during the summer months 
(Figure 2). With the exception of the individual 
near Topolščica, only two observations were made 
between 20 Jun and 30 Aug. Fewer observations 
were recorded during the winter as well. In 
December and January, altogether six birds were 
observed (Figure 2). The first migratory Red Kites 
were recorded at the beginning of February. The 
number of observations rose until the start of April 
and eventually dropped towards its end (Figure 2). 
There is a second peak in May. During the autumn 
migration, the first Red Kites were observed at the 
end of August. The number of observations rose 
through September peaking in the beginning of 
October (Figure 2). The last autumn observation 
was made at Ljubljansko barje on 12 Nov (Tome 
et al. 2005).
Red Kites were sighted over much of the 
country, from Goričko and Pomurje in the east 
to Breginjski Stol and Sečovlje saltpans in the 
west (Figure 3). Observations are concentrated 
in the areas of prolonged bird censuses, for 
example: Medvedce reservoir (27 observations), 
Acrocephalus 37 (172/173): 55–59, 2017
10.1515/acro-2017-0006
56
Figure 1: Annual observations of Red Kite Milvus milvus in Slovenia between 1977 and 2016
Slika 1: Letno število opazovanj rjavih škarnikov Milvus milvus v Sloveniji med letoma 1977 in 2016
Figure 2: Phenology of Red Kite Milvus milvus observations in Slovenia, with grey line indicating one individual 
observed at the Vodovnik farmhouse near Topolšica in 2009 and 2010
Slika 2: Fenologija opazovanj rjavih škarnikov Milvus milvus v Sloveniji. Siva črta ponazarja zadrževanje enega 
osebka pri kmetiji Vodovnik pri Topolšici v letih 2009 in 2010.
D. Bordjan: Occurrence of the Red Kite Milvus milvus in Slovenia
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Ljubljansko barje (15), Sečovlje saltpans (4), Lake 
Cerknica (4), Ormož lagoons (3), and also in the 
areas of higher birdwatching concentrations, e. g. 
Ljubljana basin (11) and Dravsko polje (9). Data 
are absent from mountainous areas in the north 
and northwest and forested areas in the south and 
southeast (Figure 3). Most of the observations 
were made in the lowlands.  The highest altitude 
observation concerns an individual recorded on 
Mt Krvavec at 1,740 m a.s.l. (Šere 2011). Apart 
from that, Red Kite was observed above 1,000 m 
a.s.l. also at Breginjski Stol (Božič 2004, Denac 
2010) and at the top of Mt Pohorje above Maribor 
(Božič 1991).
Although the Red Kite population as a whole 
is in decline, the populations in Poland, Sweden 
(BirdLife International 2015) as well as Czech 
Republic (Knott et al. 2009) are increasing. 
These migratory populations  mostly  migrate 
towards the southwest (Knott et al. 2009). Along 
with a much better data-gathering tool (Mihelič 
2016), the increases in countries to the north and 
northeast of Slovenia may explain the substantial 
increase in the number of observations. Migration 
periods based on Slovenian data match arrivals 
and departures from breeding areas (Urcun & 
Bried 1998, BirdLife International 2015). 
Since the return to breeding area mostly lasts 
till the end of April (BirdLife International 
2017), birds sighted in May are probably non-
breeding individuals. The small number of winter 
observations is surprising since there is a tendency 
for birds in central Europe to overwinter, e. 
g. in Moravia (Czech Republic) (Knott et al. 
2009). On the other hand there is a slight trend 
towards more winter observations of Red Kite 
during the winter in Slovenia. Half (3) of all 
observations were made in the past six years, 
and the last two in the past two years, but this 
might only be a coincidence. Higher density of 
Figure 3: Distribution of Red Kite Milvus milvus observations in Slovenia
Slika 3: Prostorska razširjenost opazovanj rjavih škarnikov Milvus milvus v Sloveniji
Acrocephalus 37 (172/173): 55–59, 2017
58
observations in certain areas could be related to 
the higher observation effort. On the other hand, 
their absence from higher altitudes and extensive 
forested areas could also be explained by by the 
tendency of the species to occupy open areas at 
low to middle at low to middle altitudes (Knott 
et al. 2009). Since Red Kites occur mostly in the 
altitude belt 0–800 m a.s.l. and rarely to 2,500 
m a.s.l. (BirdLife International 2015), the 
fact of only three sightings above 1,000m a.s.l. in 
Slovenia comes as no surprise. 
Abstract
The Red Kite Milvus milvus breeds alomost 
exclusively in Europe, its population is in decline. 
In the past, it was regarded as a rare migrant in 
Slovenia. In the 1990s it was classified as a possible 
breeder, extremely rare winter guest with more 
observations during migration. Between 1977 
and January 2017 117 records of 121 individuals 
were gathered. Most (113) involved single birds on 
migration. Exceptionally, birds were present for 
a longer period – a single record of a summering 
bird is known. Since 1980 the number of birds 
per year increased from 1 to 1.1, 3 and 9 after 
2009. Possible reasons are increased awareness and 
population increases to the north and northeast 
of Slovenia. Red Kites were observed throughout 
the year with the lowest numbers during summer 
and winter, which surprising, because the species 
is increasingly common during winter in central 
Europe. Migration of Red Kites in Slovenia begins 
in February with a peak in early April and May 
and between August and mid-November with a 
peak in early in October. The migration period 
coincides with arrivals and departures from 
breeding grounds. Red Kites have been observed 
all across the country, with more observations at 
well-watched sites. Birds were observed between 
sea level and 1740 m a.s.l. with only a handful of 
observations above 1000 m a.s.l.
Key words: Red Kite, Milvus milvus, phenology, 
migration, altitudinal distribution
Povzetek
Rjavi škarnik Milvus milvus gnezdi skoraj 
izključno v Evropi in njegova populacija upada. 
V preteklosti je bil redek preletnik. V 90. letih 
20. stoletja je imel status možnega gnezdilca in 
izredno redkega prezimovalca z več opazovanji 
med selitvijo. Zbrano je bilo 117 podatkov o 
121 osebkih med letom 1977 in januarjem 2017. 
Večinoma (113) so bili opazovani posamezni 
osebki na selitvi. Le izjemoma so se osebki 
zadrževali dalj časa in zbrana sta samo dva podatka 
o letovanju enega osebka v dveh letih na isti lokaciji. 
Število opazovanj se je od leta 1980 v posameznih 
desetletjih dvigovalo od manj kot 1 osebek do 1,1, 
3 in 9 osebkov na leto po letu 2009. Možni razlogi 
za ta občutni dvig opazovanj so boljše orodje za 
zbiranje podatkov ter dvigi populacij severno in 
severovzhodno od Slovenije. Rjavi škarniki so bili 
opazovani v vseh mesecih leta z najnižjim številom 
opazovanj v poletnih in zimskih mesecih. Slednje 
je presenetljivo, saj vedno več osebkov prezimuje 
v srednji Evropi. Selitev rjavih škarnikov v 
Sloveniji traja med začetkom februarja z viškom 
začetek aprila in v maju ter med koncem avgusta 
in sredino novembra z viškom v začetku oktobra. 
Selitveno obdobje se ujema s prihodi in odhodi z 
gnezdišč. Rjavi škarnik je bil opazovan po večjem 
delu države z več opazovanji na območjih večje 
ornitološke pozornosti. Opažen je bil od obale 
do višine 1740  m  n.  v., z glavnino opazovanj po 
nižinah in le s peščico nad 1000 m n. v.
Ključne besede: rjavi škarnik, Milvus milvus, 
fenologija, selitev, višinska razširjenost
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Prispelo / Arrived: 21. 2. 2017
Sprejeto / Accepted: 12. 10. 2017