Kites aren’t just colorful pieces of fabric on a string that kids like to fly! A kite is also a type of bird-of-prey like hawks and falcons. Kites can take to the skies and sail along on updrafts and thermals. Their high-powered eyesight helps them spot prey, which they dive onto and grab with their sharp talons. Kite species can be found around the world, but in this article we will specifically look at 8 species of kites in North America, including the few species you can see in the United States.
How are Kites different from hawks and falcons?
Kites, falcons and hawks are all birds of prey that share many similarities. While these many not hold true for every specific species, here are some general differences between these three types of birds:
- Wing Shape: Kites have long, pointed wings that are designed for soaring and gliding. Hawks have shorter, broader wings that are designed for quick, agile flight. Falcons also have longer, pointed wings but are mainly designed for speed.
- Hunting Style: Kites are often opportunistic hunters and feed on a variety of prey, including small mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects. They typically hunt by soaring and scanning the ground for prey. Hawks, on the other hand, are more specialized hunters and tend to focus on a specific type of prey, such as rodents, birds, or insects. They typically hunt by perching and waiting for prey to come within range. Falcons are known for their high-speed dives to catch their prey and are much faster moving than kites.
- Behavior: Kites are known for their graceful flight and their ability to soar effortlessly for long periods of time. Overall they spend much more time soaring than hawks and falcons. But, they have less agility when it comes to tight maneuvers.
8 Species of kites in North America
1. Mississippi kite
Scientific name: Ictinia mississippiensis
Mississippi kites are the most widespread species of kite in North America. They like to breed along the Mississippi River as far north as Iowa. Look for them in the U.S. during the summer in the southeast states in large, wooded wetland, and the prairies of Texas and Oklahoma. A small pocket of Mississippi kites live in Arizona too. Come fall, they will migrate down to central parts of South America to spend the winter.
East of the Mississippi River they nest in large tracks of mature forest that have open land nearby, such as pastures, waterways or lakes. West of the Mississippi their nesting sites can be found in oak and mesquite savannah and trees lining rivers. More recently they have taken to nesting in urban areas like parks and golf courses. These social birds don’t mind nesting close to each other, but will aggressively defend their nests from any other threats including humans. Western birds tend to nest in groups more than eastern ones.
Their coloration is mix of light and dark grays. They have a pale head and chest, a dark eye patch, and dark wings and tail. Their body shape is slender, and in flight they narrow, pointed wings.
Depending on where they live they eat quite a wide variety. They tend to grab prey while in flight, either snatching large insects from the air or plucking frogs, lizards and snakes from plants. Occasionally they will forage on the ground or in shallow water.
2. Double-toothed kite
