The Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus) is one of the most graceful and striking birds of prey in North America. Known for its distinctive forked tail and aerial acrobatics, this raptor is a master of the skies, spending much of its time soaring and gliding above forests and wetlands. It inhabits parts of the southeastern United States, as well as Central and South America.

Key Characteristics:

Physical Characteristics:

Size: The Swallow-tailed Kite is a medium-sized bird of prey. It typically measures 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24 inches) in length, with a wingspan of 1.2 to 1.4 meters (4 to 4.5 feet). It weighs about 350 to 600 grams (12 to 21 ounces), making it relatively light for its size.
Color: The bird is strikingly patterned with stark black and white plumage. The head, underparts, and most of the wings are white, while the upperparts, wingtips, and deeply forked tail are black.
Tail: Its most distinctive feature is the long, deeply forked tail, which resembles the shape of a swallow’s tail and gives the bird exceptional agility in flight. This tail allows for precise control when hunting and maneuvering.
Wings: The Swallow-tailed Kite has long, slender wings that are built for soaring. The wings are slightly curved and are black on top and white underneath, adding to the bird’s distinctive look from below.

Habitat:

Range: The Swallow-tailed Kite’s breeding range is primarily in the southeastern United States, particularly in Florida, southern Georgia, and along the Gulf Coast from Louisiana to South Carolina. It winters in Central and South America, especially in countries like Brazil and Peru, undertaking long migrations between its breeding and wintering grounds.
Preferred Habitat: It favors large, uninterrupted tracts of lowland forest, wetlands, marshes, and swamps where tall trees provide ideal nesting sites. The bird prefers areas with abundant food sources and open spaces for flight. During migration, it can be seen flying over a variety of habitats, including farmland and urban areas.

Behavior:

Flight: The Swallow-tailed Kite is an aerial specialist, spending the majority of its life in flight. It glides effortlessly on thermals, rarely flapping its wings, and performs acrobatic twists and turns using its forked tail for precise maneuverability. Its flight is graceful and fluid, often described as one of the most elegant among birds of prey.
Diet: It primarily feeds on insects, small reptiles, amphibians, and birds. The kite often hunts while in flight, swooping down to snatch prey from the ground, vegetation, or mid-air. Its diet includes grasshoppers, dragonflies, frogs, lizards, and small snakes. Occasionally, it will also take small mammals and bird nestlings.
Feeding Strategy: Uniquely, Swallow-tailed Kites often feed while flying, catching prey in their talons and transferring it to their beaks without landing. They also pluck insects directly off leaves and branches while in flight, demonstrating their extraordinary agility and precision.

Reproduction:

Breeding Season: The breeding season typically occurs from March to May, depending on the region. Swallow-tailed Kites form monogamous pairs, and breeding pairs return to the same nesting territories each year.
Nest Location: Nests are built high in the crowns of tall trees, often near the edge of forests or in clearings that provide easy access for flight. The nest is constructed from twigs, lined with moss and lichen, and is placed near the top of the tree.
Egg Laying: Females usually lay 1 to 2 eggs, which are white with brown or gray speckles. Both parents participate in incubating the eggs, which hatch after about 28 to 30 days.
Chick Development: After hatching, the young are cared for by both parents. The chicks remain in the nest for about 5 to 6 weeks before fledging. Even after they fledge, the parents continue to feed and protect the young for a short period until they become fully independent.

Migration:

Swallow-tailed Kites are long-distance migrators. After the breeding season, they gather in large flocks to begin their southward migration to Central and South America, often traveling over 5,000 miles to reach their wintering grounds. The return migration to North America occurs in late winter or early spring.

Pre-migration Roosting: Before migration, Swallow-tailed Kites gather in communal roosts, sometimes with hundreds of individuals in one location. These gatherings provide an opportunity for social interaction and may help younger birds learn the migration route from experienced adults.

Social Behavior:

Flocking: Swallow-tailed Kites are highly social and are often seen flying in small groups, especially during migration or when preying on insects in swarms. While hunting, they sometimes form loose groups, working together to flush out prey.
Non-aggressive: Unlike many other birds of prey, Swallow-tailed Kites are non-aggressive and are not territorial outside of the breeding season. They are known for their calm demeanor and lack of hostility toward other species, even in areas with limited food resources.

Conservation Status:

Swallow-tailed Kites are currently listed as a species of “Least Concern” by the IUCN, but they face threats from habitat loss, particularly in their breeding range in the southeastern United States. As forests are cleared for agriculture or urban development, suitable nesting and foraging habitats are diminished. Additionally, wetland drainage and degradation can impact their primary feeding grounds.

Historical Decline: The population of Swallow-tailed Kites declined in the early 20th century due to habitat destruction and persecution. Their range once extended as far north as Minnesota, but they have since retreated to their southeastern stronghold.
Current Status: Today, conservation efforts are focused on protecting critical nesting and roosting habitats, particularly in Florida and other parts of the southeastern U.S. They are considered an indicator species for the health of forested wetlands.

Ecological Role:

Insect Control: By feeding primarily on insects, especially during their breeding season, Swallow-tailed Kites help control insect populations, including pest species like grasshoppers and beetles, which can damage crops and forests.
Prey for Larger Predators: Although Swallow-tailed Kites are skilled predators, they are occasionally preyed upon by larger raptors such as hawks and eagles, particularly young or weakened individuals.

Threats:

Habitat Loss: Deforestation and the destruction of wetlands are the primary threats to the Swallow-tailed Kite. Large, undisturbed tracts of forest are necessary for nesting and hunting.
Climate Change: As climate patterns shift, the timing and availability of their food sources may be affected, especially in their Central and South American wintering grounds.
Human Encroachment: Urban sprawl and agricultural development reduce the availability of nesting sites, and pesticide use may impact their food supply by reducing insect populations.

Interesting Facts:

Aerial Acrobat: The Swallow-tailed Kite is known for its spectacular aerial displays. It can catch prey mid-air, perform rapid twists and turns, and pluck insects from foliage while flying. Few birds of prey can match its agility.
Silent Hunter: Despite being a raptor, the Swallow-tailed Kite rarely vocalizes. It relies on its exceptional vision and flight skills to locate and capture prey.
Flocking Migration: During migration, large flocks of Swallow-tailed Kites can be seen, sometimes numbering in the hundreds. This spectacle is a favorite among birdwatchers in areas where the birds pass through during migration.

The Swallow-tailed Kite’s combination of beauty, grace, and agility in flight makes it one of the most admired birds of prey in the Americas. Its reliance on specific habitats and its role in insect population control underline its importance in maintaining healthy ecosystems across its range. Conservation efforts continue to ensure that this magnificent bird remains a symbol of wild, forested landscapes.

Swallow Tailed Kite