The Black Kite is distributed across a large part of Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia but is missing from the Americas. According to Ferguson-Lees it is "probably [the] commonest raptor in world terms".

In Australia, it breeds mainly in north and eastern inland areas though it migrates throughout most of the mainland and can appear in large eruptions whenever there is a plague of rats, mice, grasshoppers or caterpillars. They are also scavengers and are found near human habitation.

Photos 2 to 4 are of juvenile plumages showing more streaks and fawn spotting including on the underwing linings.

There is more information available via Avibase.