Some scientists believe that Swallow-tailed Kite populations may have increased in some areas, but why it disappeared from most of its formerly extensive breeding range in the central United States remains a mystery. Instead, they use their aerobatic skills to skim gracefully over the surface of a lake or pond and dip their beaks into the water to get a drink. They don't order a drink from a flight attendant, like we would on a plane. Instead of landing on the ground beside a water source like many raptors do, these birds quench their thirst while they are airborne. Swallow-tailed Kites spend a lot of time in the air even when they are thirsty. It can sometimes be seen in large groups, often soaring 1,600 feet up in the air. When the Swallow-tailed Kite migrates, it will often congregate, or join up with, many other individuals of the same species. Air currents are particularly useful during migration, when birds travel very long distances in relatively short amounts of time. As warm air currents rise, they help hold the birds up like an invisible hand. If you have ever seen a vulture fly, you know they spend a lot of time circling overhead, but very little time actually flapping their wings. Like other birds of prey, they sometimes use thermals, or air currents, to help them stay in the air without exerting much effort. These raptors spend a lot of time in the air, floating almost effortlessly in the sky. If there were a competition for the most graceful, most elegant flyer of the bird world, the Swallow-tailed Kite would definitely have a shot at the prize. They can be seen hunting or soaring in open country, bottomland forests, pine forests, swamps, wet savannas, and even areas of fragmented patches of forest. During their migration, some Swallow-tailed Kites travel as far south as South America – a flight of 3,000 miles or more! However, biologists have observed a few of these birds of prey in Florida in December and January.Īpart from having a large geographical range throughout the Americas, these birds are also found in diverse habitats. Like many raptor species, kites living in the northernmost portion of their range head south during the colder winter months to find food. This beautiful kite can also be found in Central and South America, where it is a year-round resident, and in the West Indies. In the United States, it can be found in South Carolina all the way south to the upper Florida Keys, west to Louisiana and probably eastern Texas. Its unique silhouette of pointed wings and forked tail can be seen high up in the sky throughout much of the Americas. The Swallow-tailed Kite is unmistakable in flight. We also support the Neotropical Raptor Network - a group that helps conserve birds of prey by improving communication and collaboration among raptor enthusiasts throughout the region! Where They Live We also supply literature to researchers from our avian research library, which helps scientists around the world gather and share important information on raptor conservation. Though The Peregrine Fund doesn't work directly with Swallow-tailed Kites, our efforts in scientific research, habitat conservation, education, and community development help conserve raptors on a global scale.
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