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Black kite vision: the science and the numbers

Milvus migrans · order Accipitriformes · Birds: all the numbers

Their sharpest vision resolves 31.1 cycles per degree, against 63.75 for people in this dataset.[6][7] Both eyes see the same 39° in front of them.[10]

See it on your photoBack to How do black kites see?
  • 31.1cycles per degree (sharpness)Measured
  • 39°seen by both eyesMeasured

The black kite (Milvus migrans) is a bird in the order Accipitriformes. Its eyes belong to the vision type Raptor telephoto: four cone types, two foveas and very high sharpness. Measured in this species: sharpness, field of view, foveas and night vision. Measured core: measured values on at least 3 of the 6 dials.

This is a simulation built from published eye measurements, not what the animal experiences.

Method: How we know what animals see (the See Like Animals vision engine) · Sources · Last updated . Every value below carries its evidence level and sources; nothing is typed by hand.

What black kites see: colour receptors

Black kite colour receptor peaks, 300 to 700 nmBlack kite: 4 receptor peaks at 405, 449, 504, 567 nm; you: 3 at 421.5, 532, 558.4 nm. ultraviolet300400500600700
Black kite: 405, 449, 504, 567 nmPeople: 421.5, 532, 558.4 nmWavelength in nanometres

What stands out

  • Its sharpest vision resolves 31.1 cycles per degree: the finest stripe pattern it can tell apart from grey.
  • Both eyes see the same 39° in front of it (binocular overlap), where depth is judged best.
  • Activity pattern: diurnal.

The six dials

Evidence levels: how the tiers work. "Measured" means a value measured in this species; "Estimated" values come from a close relative or an eye-size formula. The last column gives the values for people from the same catalogue.

Vision values for the black kite (Milvus migrans), catalogue-v1
DialValueEvidenceSourcesPeople
ColourColour receptors
4 receptor classes: 405 nm (VS/SWS (violet)), 449 nm (SWS (blue)), 504 nm (MWS (green)), 567 nm (LWS (long))
receptor set of nearest measured relative Buteo buteo (same family Accipitridae)
Estimated[1][2]Colour receptors: 3 receptor classes: 421.5 nm (VS/SWS (violet)), 532 nm (MWS (green)), 558.4 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified)[2][3][4][5]
SharpnessAcuity
31.1 cycles per degree
median of 2 behavioural rows (method priority rule); eye_diameter_mm: larval/juvenile rows (adult rows used) set aside (labelled alternative: 24.0)
Measured[6][7]Acuity: 63.75 cycles per degree Measured[8][9]
Field of viewBinocular overlap
39°
median of 1 rows (eyes-at-rest rows preferred)
Measured[10]Binocular overlap: 122.5° Measured[11][12]
Total field of view: 200° Measured (not re-verified)[13]
Blind area behind the head: 160° Derived[13]
Eye placement: frontal Derived[11][12]
Total field of view
277.5°
median total field (measured, or 360 - blind area) of relatives in family Accipitridae: Accipiter cooperii, Buteo jamaicensis, Circaetus gallicus, Parabuteo unicinctus
Estimated[14]
Blind area behind the head
82.5°		Estimated[14]
Eye placement
lateral
frontal if binocular overlap >= 60 deg, else lateral
Derived[10]
Sharp zones (foveas)Number of foveas
1
retinal topography
Measured (not re-verified)[15]Number of foveas: 1 Measured[16]
Fovea type: fovea Measured[16]
Fovea type
deep central only		Measured (not re-verified)[15]
Night visionActivity pattern
diurnal
mode of 4 rows (of 4 rows): diurnal; not_nocturnal
Measured (not re-verified)[17][18][19][20]Activity pattern: diurnal Measured (not re-verified)[21][22][23][2][24][25][26][20]
Pupil shape: vertical Group default[27][28]
Reflective layer (tapetum): no Measured[29]
Rods vs cones: cone-dominated Derived[21][22][23][2][24][25][26][20]
Rods vs cones
cone-dominated
nocturnal -> rod-dominated; crepuscular / cathemeral / mixed -> mixed; diurnal -> cone-dominated
Derived[17][18][19][20]
Motion (flicker fusion)Flicker fusion frequency
77.7 Hz
median of 1 relatives in family Accipitridae: Parabuteo unicinctus
Estimated[30]Flicker fusion frequency: 60 Hz Measured[31][32]

All birds side by side: Birds: every measurement. Method: how we know what animals see.

Sources

  1. Lind et al. 2014
  2. Longcore 2023
  3. Kirwan
  4. Müller et al. 2009
  5. Thermal Activation and Photoactivation of Visual… 2004
  6. Caves et al. 2018
  7. Potier et al. 2020
  8. Kirk et al. 2004
  9. Veilleux et al. 2014
  10. Potier et al. 2023
  11. Heesy 2004
  12. Heffner et al. 1992
  13. Campbell & Green 1965
  14. Tyrrell et al. 2017
  15. Potier et al. 2017
  16. Kopania et al. 2025
  17. Light conditions and the evolution of…
  18. Choiniere et al. 2021
  19. Wilman et al. 2014
  20. Moura et al. 2024
  21. Anderson et al. 2017
  22. Borges et al. 2018
  23. Wilman et al. 2014
  24. Maor et al. 2017
  25. Jones et al. 2009
  26. Schmitz et al. 2011
  27. Banks et al. 2015
  28. Cervino et al. 2021
  29. Guareschi et al. 2025
  30. Lafitte et al. 2022
  31. Healy et al. 2013
  32. Inger et al. 2014

Every value cites its sources (all sources). Values were extracted from these works and converted (units, medians, derived values); changes are ours, and the listed sources do not endorse this site. Data: catalogue-v1, built 2026-09-29. Accuracy notes: how accurate is this? Method: how we know.