Field Guide to Birds of North America
Swallow-tailed Kite
General
Swallow-tailed Kite: The largest of North America kites, this bird has black upperparts which contrast sharply with white head and underparts. In flight it shows long pointed wings with black flight feathers and white wing linings. Has a 15-16 inch-long black tail with a deep fork. Its neck, breast and belly are snow-white. Feet and bill are relatively small, tarsi short. Bill is black, cere dark bluish-gray, tarsi medium to light bluish-gray. Iris is dark brown or very slightly reddish-brown. Sexes are similar. Juvenile resembles adult, but flight feathers and tail are narrowly tipped with white, tail is shorter.
Range and Habitat
Swallow-tailed Kite: Breeds mainly on or near coasts from Texas east to Florida, and north to South Carolina; local farther inland in Gulf states. Winters in American tropics. Also breeds in tropics. Inhabits swamps, marshes, river bottoms, and glades in open forests.
Listen to Call
Voice Text
"ee-ee-ee", "pee-pee-pee", "klee-klee-klee", "peat, peat, peat"
Interesting Facts
The Swallow-tailed Kite is perhaps the most adept and acrobatic flier of all the raptors.
The scientific name comes from a Latin-Greek hybridization of the words elanus, meaning a kite; eidos, meaning to resemble or be similar to; and forfex, for scissors, which refers to the forked tail.
In some nests two eggs are laid, but the first chick that hatches kills the younger chick. Ornithologists refer to this as obligate siblicide.
A group of kites has many collective nouns, including a "brood", "kettle", "roost", "stooping", and "string" of kites.
Author
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Family
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Species
Elanoides forficatus
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Length19 - 25
Inches
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Wingspan47.5
Inches
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Swallow-tailed Kite
Swallow-tailed Kite: The largest of North America kites, has black upperparts which contrast with white head and underparts. In flight it shows long pointed wings with black flight feathers and white wing linings. Has a 15-16 inch-long black tail with deep fork. The neck, breast and belly are white.
● Song: "ee-ee-ee", "pee-pee-pee", "klee-klee-klee", "peat, peat, peat"
● Foraging & Feeding: Swallow-tailed Kite: This bird feeds on insects such as bees, dragonflies, crickets, cicadas, and beetles. Also consumes small snakes, lizards, frogs, and small birds, which are often taken from the treetops. All prey are captured with feet while in flight by gleaning from surface of vegetation, reaching within or underneath foliage, or snatching flying insects with barely perceptible strikes of the feet. Adults eat food while flying.
● Breeding & nesting: Swallow-tailed Kite: Two to three white eggs with brown and lavender markings, often concentrated at the large end, are laid in a nest of sticks, twigs, moss, and pine needles. Nest is built by both sexes and placed in the treetop, 60-130 feet above ground, concealed by thick foliage. Nest is lined with leaves and lichen. Incubation ranges from 24 to 28 days and is carried out by both sexes. These birds have one brood per year.
● Similar species: Swallow-tailed Kite: Mississippi Kite is similar but has a slightly notched black tail and gray underparts and head.
Flight Pattern
Soars on thermals and updrafts., Buoyant flight with deep slow wing beats and glides.
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BreedingMonogamous
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Population
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MigrationMigratory
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Weight15.6
Ounces
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