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
Subfamily:	Elaninae
Genus:	Elanoides Vieillot, 1818
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 (22 to 26 in) in length, with a wingspan of approximately 1.3 m (4.3 ft). 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.

Sometimes a high-pitched chirp is emitted, though the birds mostly remain silent.

Diet

The Swallow-tailed Kite feeds on small reptiles, such as snakes and lizards and frogs, large insects, such as grasshoppers, crickets, small birds and eggs, and small mammals. It drinks by skimming the surface and collecting water in its beak.

Reproduction

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 (2009). "Elanoides forficatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/144316. Retrieved 11 May 2006. 
• 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

• 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