swallow-tailed kite

For the African species, see African Swallow-tailed Kite

Swallow-tailed Kite
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae Genus: Elanoides Species: E. forficatus
Binomial name
Elanoides forficatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
Elanus forficatus Falco forficatus

The Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus) is an elanid kite which breeds from the southeastern United States to eastern Peru and northern Argentina. Most North and Central American breeders winter in South America where the species is resident year round. It was formerly named Falco forficatus.

Physical description

The species is 55 to 65 cm in length, with a wingspan of approximately 1.3 m. Male and female individuals appear similar. The body is a contrasting deep black and white. The flight feathers, tail, feet, bill are all black. Another characteristic is the forked tail, hence the name swallow-tailed.

Young Swallow-tailed Kites are duller in color than the adults, and the tail is not as deeply forked.

Habitat and behavior

Swallow-tailed Kites inhabit mostly woodland and forested wetlands near nesting locations. Nests are built in trees, usually near water. Both male and female participate in building the nest.

Sometime a high-pitched chirp is emitted; though the birds mostly remain silent.

Feeding, drinking, mating

The Swallow-tailed Kite feeds on small reptile, big insect,smaller birds,and small mammals, and drinks by skimming the surface and collecting water in its bill.

Mating occurs from March to May, with the female laying 2 to 4 eggs. Incubation lasts 28 days, and 36 to 42 days to fledge.

Conservation in the United States

Swallow-tailed Kites are not listed as endangered or threatened by the federal government in the United States. They are listed as endangered by the state of South Carolina and as threatened by the state of Texas. They are listed as "rare" by the state of Georgia. Destruction of habitats is chiefly responsible for the decline in numbers. A key conservation area is the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge in Florida.

References

• BirdLife International (2004). Elanoides forficatus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
• Stiles and Skutch, A guide to the birds of Costa Rica ISBN 0-8014-9600-4

External links

• American Swallow-tailed Kite videos on the Internet Bird Collection

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Elanoides forficatus

• 5 pictures of Swallow-tailed Kites
• Stamps (for Grenadines of Guyana, Guyana, Nicaragua) with RangeMap–(vagrant in eastern USA, except southeast)
• Swallow-tailed Kite photo gallery VIREO
• Photo-(Soaring) & article