Swallow-tailed Kite

Swallow-tailed Kite, adult; Indian Lakes, FL

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A strikingly marked raptor of wetlands in the southeastern United States, the Swallow-tailed Kite captures flying insects or plucks insects and lizards from the tops of trees.

Description

• Medium-sized hawk.
• Striking black-and-white coloring, with white head and body and black wings and tail.
• Long, thin, pointed wings.
• Long, forked tail.

• Size: 50-64 cm (20-25 in)
• Wingspan: 122 cm (48 in)
• Weight: 370-600 g (13.06-21.18 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike.

Sound

Call a high, whistled "klee, klee, klee."

Conservation Status

Population in United States appears stable.

Other Names

Le Milan de la Caroline, Milan à queue fourchue (French)
Gavilan tijereta, Gavilan cola de tijera (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• The Swallow-tailed Kite rarely flap its wings while flying, but it almost continuously rotates its tail, often to nearly 90 degrees, in order to hold a heading, make a sharp turn, or trace tight circles while drifting across the sky.
• The Swallow-tailed Kite frequently eats while flying.

Sources used to construct this page:

Meyer, K. D. 1995. Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus). In The Birds of North America, No. 138 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologists? Union, Washington, D.C.