Mississippi Kite

Mississippi Kite, adult (Def. Basic); Lamar, CO; July

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Mississippi Kite, 1st summer; Lamar, CO

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

A graceful, long-winged raptor, the Mississippi Kite is found in scattered localities across the southern and central United States.

Description

Medium-sized hawk. Long, narrow, pointed wings. Long black tail. Head pearly gray. Body darker gray. Pale patch on rear edge of wings as seen from above.

• Size: 34-37 cm (13-15 in)
• Weight: 214-388 g (7.55-13.7 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes similar, but head and nape of male paler than of female.

Sound

Call a high, thin whistled "phee, phew."

Conservation Status

Populations declined until mid-1900s, when increases began. Listed as threatened or endangered in some states.

Other Names

Milan du Mississippi (French)
Milano de Mississippi, Gavilan de Mississippi, Gavilan grisillo, Milano migratorio (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• The Mississippi Kite often attacks people who venture too close to its nest, especially in urban areas.

• In the Great Plains the Mississippi Kite can be locally abundant, usually nests colonially, and since the mid-1970s has nested abundantly in many urban areas. In the East it is less colonial, less abundant, and still nests primarily in old-growth forest.

Sources used to construct this page:

Parker, J. W 1999. Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis). In The Birds of North America, No. 402 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.