World’s most elegant raptor! And it nests in Central
Florida! Unmistakable, the American swallow-tailed kite, Elanoides
forficatus is quite often seen in our area. An early migrant, with the first
birds returning from Brazil in February, this kite nests in small groups in
pine trees and cypresses in swampy areas of Central Florida.
The 20 to 22 inch long kite is conspicuous with its
blackish and snow-white plumage, and the long tail feathers that give it its
common and scientific names. Weighing around one pound, its 50-inch wingspan
gives it a very light wing loading, allowing a very buoyant flight quite
different from many other raptors.
Diet: As with kites in general, the bill and talons
are small, suggesting a diet of smaller and weaker prey than many other
raptors. In fact, Elanoides feeds mostly on lizards, frogs, snakes and
insects - with the occasional small bird - which it picks up from the tops
of trees. They can frequently be seen flying into the canopy in search of
prey.
Reproduction: Typically the swallow-tailed kite nest
in the upper branches of tall trees, 60 to 100 feet above ground. Nests are
rather rudimentary, consisting of piles of sticks lined with conspicuous
amounts of Spanish moss and old man’s beard lichen. Several pairs may nest
in close proximity. These are rather social birds (rare in raptors) and seem
to need the presence of others of their species to breed. There are usually
two eggs, creamy white and marked with brown. Incubation is 28 to 30 days,
and both parents feed the young.
Range: The subspecies E. f. forficatus nests in the
coastal plains of the northern Gulf States through to South Carolina, and
peninsular Florida. They usually breed in forested areas close to water. The
Everglades is a popular nesting area. Formerly, nesting occurred as far
north as Minnesota. Currently a maximum of 5,000 American swallow-tailed
kites exist in North America, with 800 to 1200 breeding pairs, two thirds in
Florida; a second subspecies of this spectacular bird, Elanoides forficatus
datura, occurs from southeastern Mexico as far south as Argentina.
Migration: After breeding, the entire US population
heads south in late summer to early fall. All our birds winter in Brazil, in
an area known as the Pantanal. The birds congregate in large groups or
roosts prior to migration, one site being Lake Woodruff NWR. This roost has
contained up to 576 birds! An even larger roost occurs on the western side
of Lake Okeechobee, up to 3,000 birds. As far as is known, all birds fly
through Florida, then to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico after passing
through Cuba (conservation of migratory birds is one of many reasons why
relations with this country must be improved). They then fly through the
pacific side of Central America into Colombia, cross the Andes in southern
Colombia, and pass down the west side of the Amazon Basin eventually to stop
in Brazil after a somewhat leisurely migration of some 4,500 miles.
In Brazil they winter in habitat resembling that in
which they breed in the USA, wet areas with plenty of tall trees. They also
mingle with the local (datura) subspecies, which may be breeding while our
kites are there (i.e. in the southern hemisphere summer).
Research: Much of this information is surprisingly
new. Not being a federally listed species, money hasn’t been as
forthcoming for research on these raptors as it has for the bald eagle or
peregrine falcon, for example. In the last 12 years, Dr Ken Meyer has been
studying them, currently with the help of satellite tracking devices. The
kites are fitted with 20-gram transmitters (some solar powered) which enable
them to be tracked by satellite with an accuracy of a few hundred yards
May 19, 2001 update. I have reported numerous sightings to Dr Meyer,
and last weekend was delighted to find a nest. So far I have seen no
evidence of young birds in the nest, but perhaps if the nest is successful
the young could be banded and radio tagged and help fill in some of the gaps
in our knowledge about these wonderful birds.
