Spotlight Species #8: Swallow-tailed kite

Spotlight Species #8:
Swallow-tailed kite (Elanoides forficatus)

What to Look For:
Swallow-tailed kites are easy to identify when they are in flight. They have a white belly, neck, and head with wings and tail tipped with black. Their long forked tail gives them their name and makes them stand out when flying.

Where to Find It:
Swallow-tailed kites visit the Waccamaw River watershed during the spring and summer months. You’ll find them soaring about the wooded wetlands along the river where they like to nest.

Why It Is a Spotlight Species:
The Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge is home to the highest density of nesting swallow-tailed kites in South Carolina! It is also the northernmost nesting site for the species. If you visit the refuge visitor center, you might luck into seeing the birds flying right over the building!

Posted on April 15, 2021 01:13 PM by waccamaw_riverkeeper waccamaw_riverkeeper

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