The dark man had lifted his arms inside his robe, turning the robe into the shape of a black kite.

High-flying black kites and ground-skimming marsh harriers searched for dead or dying fish.

He watched the crows circling around like black kites, and his mouth watered.

Susliks were the preferred prey of black kites, though the long-winged hawks also fed on other rodents, and carrion and insects as well.

"It's a black kite, actually," Bast said.

"And it's a hot one, ain't it?" said Tom, squinting at a buzzard floating like a black kite, high in the sky.