Description: Medium-sized hawk with long pointed wings; bright red eyes; pearly gray head with darker gray on back and wings; black tail.
When: Common spring and summer visitor, usually arriving in April and staying until late October. Kites are migratory and leave in the fall for South America where they winter.
Where: Kites breed in the southern and central United States. They nest in the southern states along the Mississippi River, hence the origin of their name. Often found near water and wooded areas. In the air Kites are graceful and buoyant, soaring overhead for hours.
Breeding: Nest in trees using old nests, but they will build new ones as well. Both parents incubate the eggs. Often found nesting in urban areas close to buildings and homes. Kites have been known to dive at animals and people who get too close to their nest. This behavior is strictly to scare away potential threats to the nest and young; however, it can be a problem if the nest is located near a golf course or school.
Feeding: Kites prefer insects, especially grasshoppers and dragonflies. They will also eat snakes, lizards, frogs, bats and occasionally small birds.
Interesting facts: They have communal roost sites during the late summer where ten or more Kites may congregate. The Kite can sometimes be seen catching insects in midair using one or both feet. Then, while still in the air, a foot reaches the bill, insect wings are pulled off and the prey is eaten. Talk about an aerial acrobat!
