![]() ![]() Estimates range from 800 to 1,200 breeding pairs in North American with about 65% of these breeding in Florida. Bent reports that nests are located near the tops of tall pines, cottonwoods, sycamores, cypresses and a few others. The preferred habitat seems to be swamps, river bottomlands, and pine fringes along flood plains. The current breeding range appears to be limited to the states bordering the Gulf, including east Texas and Georgia and South Carolina on the Atlantic coast. The historical breeding range extended up the Mississippi River as far north as Minnesota. ![]() They begin arriving in our area in March. This Neotropical migrant spends the months of our winter as far south as South America. It is noticeably smaller than the osprey, evidenced primarily in the shape of the wings. When compared to the Mississippi Kite, the Swallow-tailed Kite looks huge. This kite may be seen in conjunction with Mississippi Kites or Ospreys that also frequent parts of the same habitat. Insects, reptiles, and amphibians compose most of their diet. What a truly stunning sight! You may also see these birds deftly extracting insects, lizards, frogs, etc from trees, shrubs or off the ground. During these feeding maneuvers you' ll have the opportunity to see that the upper body and wings are all blue-black and only the head is a snow white. This species forages for insects on the wing gliding gracefully, turning majestically diving swiftly catching insects in its talons and eating in flight. The color pattern is an all white under body, white axillaries, and white underwing coverts contrasted against a blue-black tail and blue-black primaries and trailing edge of the secondaries. Most often observed flying, the visual image of the shape is that of long pointed wings typical of kites, and a long, deeply forked tail that looks like an open pair of scissors. The shape of this bird and the color pattern make it easy to identify but more importantly, make it unforgettable. Profile by Glenn Olsen: Without a doubt the most stunningly beautiful and graceful raptor in our skies is the Swallow-tailed Kite. Seasonal Occurrence: Uncommon spring through fall. ![]() Preferred Habitat: Wetlands and associated bottomlands. ![]()
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