Mississippi Kite
They say it isn’t nice to talk about others when they are not
around, but in the case of the Mississippi Kite (Ictinia
mississippiensis), which won’t be back in town for a few months,
an exception is surely in order. Though Oklahoma birdwatchers
are undoubtedly gearing up for a great winter of watching
feathered visitors in their natural habitats and at backyard
bird feeders, it will only be so long before winter turns to
spring. It’s then that birders look forward to seeing a select
group of visitors to Oklahoma known as neo-tropical birds. These
birds, among them the Mississippi kite, winter south of the
Equator, but spend spring and summer in the United States and
Canada. An acrobatic flyer, this hawk-like bird feeds primarily
on insects, is common in suburban areas, and is well known for
its nest defense tactics.
The Mississippi kite can be easily identified by several
features including color, shape, and flight pattern. Adults are
13-17 inches long and have a dark gray back, a light gray head
and body, and a dark gray to black tail. Juveniles have a
streaked body and breast and a barred tail with a shallow notch.
Both adults and juveniles have red eyes. If coloration can’t be
determined due to lighting or distance, many bird watchers look
at the overall shape and flight pattern of the bird to help with
identifications. Mississippi kites are medium sized birds with a
long tail and a three foot wingspan. These long, narrow wings
are often held in a weak or stretched “M” while flying.
Mississippi kites are insectivorous — feeding primarily on
insects — but will also capture reptiles and amphibians. Insects
are caught in mid-air and are often eaten while on the wing, or
in flight. Foraging areas include open meadows and nearby
streams where insects are abundant. In rural areas, these
acrobatic birds have even been known to hunt in recently mowed
hay fields, taking advantage of the disturbance.
Oklahoma is only a breeding ground for the Mississippi kite.
Although they frequent western Oklahoma, they can be seen
statewide. Preferring open woodlands and shrub lands, these
opportunistic birds are also common in wooded suburbs. In the
fall, large groups of kites stage for migration. Winters are
spent in South America.
Nests are typically a shallow bowl made of sticks and are found
in trees. One to three bluish-white eggs are laid in late May,
and hatch a month later. Both parents take part in incubation
and care for the young. Chicks fledge, or leave the nest for the
first time, five weeks after hatching.
Mississippi kites will aggressively defend their nests and will
dive at any intruder — including humans — that gets too close. A
simple way to avoid getting “attacked” is to leave the area
alone until after the chicks fledge. Like many other birds,
Mississippi kites are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty
Act of 1918, and it is against the law to even “attempt to
pursue any migratory bird, nest, egg, or part thereof.” If
Mississippi kites are nesting on your property, or in your
favorite park, it is best to watch from a distance, keep your
pet on a leash while at the park, and enjoy the experience.