The American Swallow-tailed Kite
Watching the American Swallow-tailed Kite soar through the sky is an impressive sight to see. It puts on an aerial ballet as it swoops and twists over the treetops in search of insects.
Description
Swallow-tailed Kite
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IMG_2265_edited-1
Swallow-tailed Kite
Swallow-tailed Kite
Swallow-tailed Kite
Swallow-tailed Kites
Range and Habitat
The American Swallow-tailed Kite spends the summers on the southeastern shores of the United States. They have been spotted as far west as Louisiana and occasionally around the Great Lakes, but are mainly found along the coast of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. They are a migratory bird wintering in South America.During the breeding season they inhabit wooded swamps, marshes, and hardwood forests. They build their nests at the top of the tallest trees.
The Swallow-tailed Kite
American Swallow-tailed Kite and other Birds of Prey
It is not uncommon for the first chick hatched to kill the younger chicks. This phenomenon is called siblicide.
Mating and Nesting Habits
Swallow-tailed Kites build their nests at least 60 to 100 feet off the ground and will occasionally go as high as 200 feet. It's usually placed on top of a tall, slender tree in open or thinly wooded areas. In denser areas they will place the nest along the edge of a trail or opening so the birds can approach the nest with ease. Kites may build their nests close to other kites but will avoid other raptors.The building of the nest is a joint effort with both the male and female activity participating. The nest is large, 15 to 20 inches across and close to a foot deep. It is built from twigs and stems, and lined with strands of lichen and moss. They will continue to add moss during incubation.
The clutch consists of 1 to 3 eggs, and are incubated for 28 to 31 days. The young fledge between 5 ½ to 7 weeks after hatching.
Swallow-tailed Kites often search for nests of smaller birds. Rather than rob the nest, they steal the whole thing, eating the eggs and the hatchlings as they fly along.
Diet
The Swallow-tailed Kite feeds primarily on insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, and dragonflies, but will occasionally scoop up a small snake or lizard. Their prey is gleaned from the tree tops as the kite flies over a canopy of trees or while making low sweeps over a grassy field. The Swallow-tailed Kite will continue to fly as it consumes its prey, and then scan the treetops for another tasty tidbit. Water is scooped up in its beak and swallowed at it skims the surface of lakes and streams. Flight
The Swallow-tailed Kite is a graceful flier. Its forked tail is often spread, but can open and close giving the bird more maneuverability. During the breeding season, its graceful maneuvers may evolve into aerial gymnastics. It is an awe-inspiring sight. Recognizing Birds in Flight
Voice
The Swallow-tailed Kite is mostly silent but will give a high-pitched alarm if the need arises. A 'eee' or 'kee' is repeated several times followed by a hissing whistle. More American Swallow-tailed Kites
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American Swallow-tai...
Swallow Tailed Kite
IMG_2265_edited-1
Swallow-tailed Kite
Swallow-tailed Kite
Conservation Status
Birds at Risk
South Carolina Birder
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Busy Lizzy's Birds of Prey
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Birds of Prey or Raptors are birds that usually hunt on the wing. They use their keen sense of sight to spot prey, swoop down, and capture it. They usually have large, powerful beaks and talons for tearing and piercing the flesh of their prey.
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As we go through life, some sights and events have a profound impact on our lives, while others flitter past unnoticed. Some passions can be traced back to that single pivotal point while others grow seemingly unnoticed for years. I am a morning pers...
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Busy Lizzy's Aquatic Birds
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Aquatic birds live on or near bodies of water. They acquire their food from the water, the shorelines, or animals within the same region. They include seabirds, such as gulls, pelicans, albatrosses, and ducks, swans and geese.
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What interesting birds have you seen?
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OhMe
I didn't realize they were endangered in SC. Very informative lens. 5* Posted August 08, 2008 |
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bbug
Very informative lens, these are beautiful birds Posted April 15, 2008 |
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GypsyPirate
This was very informative. It's not a bird I am that familiar with seeing, as I am up near the Great Lakes, but I'll watch for it now when I visit friends in Georgia. I'm curious, with a diet of mostly insects, the American Kite is a raptor? Is it related to the African Kite? Posted April 03, 2008 |
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adez7
Very nice lens, very nice indeed! :) Posted March 29, 2008 |
Resources used to construct this page.
Peterson, T.P. & Peterson, V.M. 2002. Birds of Eastern and Central North America, Fifth Edition.> Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, N.Y.
Carolina Raptor Center
Western North Carolina Nature Center
University of Minnesota Raptor Center
