This paper presents the first data on individually tagged male and fem
ale Red Kites Milvus milvus breeding at 1 year old and is validated by
genetic fingerprinting, The data were collected during 1989 to 1994 w
hen Red Kite nestlings were translocated to, and released in, southern
England as part of a re-establishment project, A total of 23 1-year-o
ld Red Kites attempted to breed in southern England from 1991 to 1994,
of which three pairs, each composed of at least one yearling bird, re
ared five young. We conclude that habitat quality is ultimately the ma
in influence that determines whether Red Kites can breed and how well
they breed, However, individual experience, climate and competition wi
th other Red Kites for nesting territories probably influence the age
at which an individual can breed in a particular habitat.