Mississippi kite bird in flight1/17/2024 Dozens of kites were in the air at any given time. This kite has what appears to be a dragonfly in its talons. That’s the Swallow-tailed Kite in the top right. Adults and recently fledged juveniles were present. The Mississippi Kites were to be the indicator that I was in the right place for the swallowtail, but I was unprepared for the sheer number of kites I would encounter on that morning.Īt any given time the sky was full of up to 4 or 5 kettles of Mississippi Kites each containing a dozen or more birds. Di The timing of activity by an animal depends. And, as it turned out, that was the case. Mississippi kites (Ictinia mississippiensis) are small birds of prey graceful in flight, often appearing to float in the air. Reportedly, the swallowtail was coming out around midmorning and flying with kettles of Mississippi Kites. I took these pictures earlier in the summer when I was in far southeast Dallas County to photograph a rare Swallow-tailed Kite. With prey in hand (talon) the kites could often be seen feeding while on the wing. It is common to see several circling in the same. On several occasions I witnessed a kite dive out of the sky and skim over the grass in order to nab a hapless grasshopper or dragonfly. Mississippi kites have narrow, pointed wings and are graceful in flight, often appearing to float in the air. Mississippi Kites are birds of prey, but they hunt mostly insects. Their acrobatic flying skills hone the analogy. The uniform slate gray coloration and sleek form of the adult reminds me of a jet fighter plane. ![]() Producer: John Kessler Executive Producer: Dominic Black © 2016 Tune In to Nature.Mississippi Kites are some of my favorite birds. This small raptor is usually seen in graceful flight, gliding and swooping acrobatically as it pursues large insects in midair. BirdNote’s theme music was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler. Today’s show is dedicated to the memory of Rusty Rose, a great friend to birds everywhere… including a group of Mississippi Kites he followed, watched, and protected on his ranch in Texas.īird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. On their trail are the Mississippi Kites, dining on the wing, sustained by the insects that are their traveling companions. Green Darners, big blue and green dragonflies, emerge from wetlands all over eastern North America and also head south, to breed. It is common to see several circling in the same area. ![]() ![]() Mississippi kites have narrow, pointed wings and are graceful in flight, often appearing to float in the air. By late August, the birds come together in flocks and start down the east side of Mexico, joining with tens of thousands of other migrants in the famous River of Raptors.īut not only raptors. The Mississippi kite ( Ictinia mississippiensis) is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. But in migration they become more focused. During the breeding season, they seek varied prey from treetops to ground, even over water. Medium-sized and large insects dominate the kites’ diet. By nesting in groups, they can work together to mob an approaching predator. They often nest colonially – unusual for hawks – with a half-dozen pairs in sight of one another in a grove of tall trees. These dove-gray birds spend the summer hunting over plains and woodlands in southern United States. The Mississippi Kite is one of America's most elegant raptors, with long, pointed wings and buoyant flight.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |