Kites, Hawks, Eagles

Mississippi Kite, Ictinia mississippiensis

Family Accipitridae (Kites, Hawks, Eagles)

Size: 14"

Season: Summer

Habitat: Swamps, woodland edges, agricultural land

The Mississippi kite is North America’s smallest kite, with a rounded head, short, hooked bill, and long wings and tail. Its plumage is slate gray across the back, undersides, and upperwing, with a paler head, becoming almost white. The tail and ends of the primaries are black, contrasting with the white secondaries. The lores and feathers surrounding the deep-red eyes are black. Sexes are similar, while juveniles show white spotting on the back and rufous spotting on the underside. In flight the wings are held flat and straight, and the outermost primary is noticeably shorter than the others. Mississippi kites feed in flight, snatching insects from the air or swooping low to attack small terrestrial animals. The voice is a high-pitched, relatively weak whistle in two parts. The adult is illustrated.