Swallow-tailed Kites Return to Florida Skies – Other Graceful Raptors You Can Spot Full Guide of 2024

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You’re soaring through the humid Florida air, the wind beneath your outstretched wings. As you peer down through yellow eyes, the marsh sparkles below, teeming with potential prey. A twitch of your five foot wingspan swings you east, honing in on a juicy snail clutched in the sawgrass.

But you’re not a bird of prey stalking an Everglade snail – you’re just an earthbound human daydreaming of an avian experience.

In truth, you can’t sail on five foot wings or dine solely on snails. But Florida’s kites can. These raptors haunt the skies in summer, scouring wetlands with their telescopic eyes. The fork-tailed Swallow-tailed Kite snatches insects midair with matchless agility.

The White-tailed Kite hovers before dropping on rodents in fields. Mississippi Kites snatch cicadas and dragonflies.

Watching them hunt stirs an ancestral longing to soar unfettered through the clouds.

Swallow-tailed Kite

You’ll find these amazing birds with forked tails and striking black-and-white plumage soaring gracefully over Florida’s wooded river swamps and cypress trees in summer. The swallow-tailed kite is an expert flyer, known for its graceful aerial movements as it feeds on insects and small creatures.

These birds nest in tall trees from March to June, laying 2-3 eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the young.

In August and September, they migrate an incredible 10,000 mile journey back to South America. Habitat loss has caused the kite to vanish from much of its former southeastern U.

Conservation efforts like research and protected habitats help preserve the species.

White-tailed Kite

You’re probably unaware that white-tailed kites breed from February to October throughout southern Florida.

• Hunts by hovering and plunging feet-first to grab prey
• Nests high up in trees, frequently cypress, pine or oak
• Lays 2-4 eggs per clutch
• Feeds mostly on small mammals such as voles and mice
• Has a white tail with black wingtips in flight
• Inhabits open grasslands, marsh edges, and agricultural areas

Catching these elegant hunters in action is a special treat for any birder exploring Florida’s diverse wildlife. Protecting their wetland habitat is vital to ensuring the white-tailed kite continues to thrive.

Mississippi Kite

Head south in summer and you can witness Mississippi Kites hunting insects overhead. Their grey wings and tail contrast with the black wingtips as they expertly maneuver through the skies.

Mississippi Kites breed in the southeastern U.S. and winter in South America. They nest in trees and forage in open areas like fields, forests, and wetlands. Their population declined in the 20th century due to habitat loss but has rebounded more recently.

Conservation efforts like protecting nesting sites and working with landowners have aided their recovery. While still a species of concern in parts of their range, Mississippi Kite populations appear stable overall.

With luck, their spectacular aerial talents will continue gracing southern skies for generations to come.

Snail Kite

In that case, let’s move on to the fascinating snail kite, another species found in Florida. This distinctive raptor is a fascinating tropical wetland specialist. The snail kite’s range centers around Florida, where it inhabits freshwater marshes, cypress swamps, and lakes.

It feeds almost exclusively on apple snails, using its hooked bill to extract the snail from its shell.

Snail kites breed in Florida from February to June, building platform nests in low trees and laying 2-3 eggs. Though populations declined due to habitat loss, they’ve rebounded thanks to conservation efforts.

Florida’s wetlands provide vital habitat for this unique kite that has adapted to thrive on apple snails.

With proper protection of its wetland ecosystem, the elegant and specialized snail kite can continue flourishing.

Double-toothed Kite

After discussing the Snail Kite, we’ll explore the Double-toothed Kite, another fascinating raptor found in Florida. As you scan the skies, watch for a medium-sized, strikingly patterned bird of prey. With its black plumage, white patches, and forked tail, the Double-toothed Kite cuts a dashing figure overhead.

Although they breed in South America, these acrobatic hunters migrate north to Florida for the summer. You may spy one diving to snatch insects, frogs or even small birds from trees and marshes.

To aid their conservation, report sightings and protect wetland habitats, which these kites depend on. With luck, you’ll glimpse this exotic raptor demonstrating its superb flying skills.

Kite Identification Tips

Spot its forked tail and striking black-and-white plumage as you’re scoping the Florida skies for this graceful flyer.

• Black and white plumage contrasts sharply. Look for black wings and back with white undersides.
• Deeply forked tail, like the tail of a barn swallow but much larger. The tail shape is a key ID feature.
• Feeding behavior offers clues – hunting on the wing, catching flying insects. Graceful and acrobatic flight.
• Listen for shrill, high-pitched calls while soaring. A sharp klee-klee-klee reveals its presence.

The elegant Swallow-tailed Kite brightens southern skies each summer. Understanding its biology helps support conservation for this vulnerable species. With care, we can protect its specialized nesting and feeding habits for the future.

Kite Nesting Behavior

When those swallow-tailed parents start buildin’ their nest way up high in the treetops, they’re like a pair of circus acrobats balancing eggs in the air.

The kites nest in tall pines or cypresses, at least 60 feet up, to keep their eggs and young safe. The female lays just 1-3 creamy white eggs each season, and both parents take turns incubating them for 28-31 days.

Once hatched, the female broods the nestlings while the male brings food. After a few weeks, the female starts hunting too. The parents care devotedly for their young, keeping the nest tidy and bringing frogs, insects, and even small birds to feed the growing chicks.

Within 5-6 weeks, the nestlings are moving around the branches and flapping those long wings, prepping to take their first flight on the summer breezes.

Where to See Kites in Florida

You saw the graceful flight of kites during nesting season. Their forked tail and striking black-and-white plumage are unmistakable as they soar. Now, witness them gathering to migrate. Head to central Florida from August to October, especially near waterways like Lake Kissimmee.

Search skyward near wetlands and swamps where snags stand above the canopy. Join researchers scaling nest trees to band birds.

Through habitat conservation, we ensure future generations experience this migration spectacle. Marvel at the synchronized movements of flocking kites, a sight linking us to wildness.

As the kites vanish southward, you understand their epic migration. Your spirit soars with these expert flyers until their triumphant return next spring.

Helping Injured or Fallen Kites

If you find an injured kite or baby downed from its nest, contact the Center for Birds of Prey for help right away. As majestic raptors that symbolize freedom, Swallow-tailed Kites deserve our care and compassion when in distress.

With expertise in raptor rehabilitation and conservation, the Center for Birds of Prey can provide injured Swallow-tailed Kites the specialized treatment they need. By supporting their rescue efforts, we help safeguard these graceful fliers for future generations.