A red kite found poisoned in the Highlands has died a “painful death”, the RSPB says.

A banned pesticide that can kill pets and people has been found in a poisoned bird of prey near a woodland walk in the Highlands.

The red kite was found dead on the ground by a dog walker near a popular trail in Spinningdale, west of Dornoch.

RSPB Scotland said the bird would have suffered a “painful death” and warned that using the banned pesticide also put pets and people at risk.

In April this year, the charity received a call and its investigators notified Police Scotland. The bird was collected and sent for autopsy and toxicology testing.

The results confirmed that the cause of death of the bird was carbofuran poisoning. The pesticide has been banned for more than 20 years and the RSPB said a quarter of a teaspoon is enough to kill a person.

Police Scotland and partner agencies searched the area but found no evidence that allowed them to identify the suspect.

Killing or attempting to kill a bird of prey is a crime, and anyone caught doing so faces a fine or jail time.

Ian Thomson, RSPB investigations manager, said: “We are very grateful to the person who found this dead kite for reporting it to us. It is appalling that people are still using this poison, decades after it was banned, and this bird has suffered a painful and gruesome death.

“Carbofuran is a highly toxic substance and one of several banned pesticides still used by criminals to control birds of prey and other protected wildlife. It is illegal to possess or use, and placing it outdoors poses a potentially fatal and indiscriminate risk not only to wildlife, but also to people and pets.

“We would ask anyone using the area to be vigilant, if they spot anything suspicious, do not touch but take photographs and report immediately to Police Scotland on 101.”

Last Bird Crime Reportpublished last month found there were 159 cases of bird of prey poisoning in Scotland between 2009 and 2024. In recent years, carbofuran has become the pesticide most commonly associated with the persecution of birds of prey.

The Highlands had the second highest number of confirmed predator incidents during the same 15-year period.

As well as contacting police on 101, anyone who spots a dead or injured bird in suspicious circumstances can complete the RSPB’s online reporting form at: www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/wild-bird-crime-report-form

Anyone with information about people killing birds of prey that they wish to report anonymously should call the confidential RSPB Raptor Crime hotline on 0300 999 0101.

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