The Mississippi Kite is a fascinating bird of prey that can be found across various regions of North and South America. These birds are highly adaptable and are known for their swift movements in the air, making them one of the most agile raptors out there.
Basic Description
The Mississippi Kite is a medium-sized bird with a wingspan ranging from 24 to 36 inches. They have pointed wings, which make them excellent fliers, and their tails are long and squared off at the tip. Adult males have gray heads while females have brownish-gray heads. Their bodies are bluish-gray, and they also feature dark wingtips.
Where To Find This Bird
These birds can be spotted in several regions of North America all year round but prefer to migrate towards South America during winter months. During mating season, they often fly towards eastern or southwestern parts of the United States as well as Mexico.
Habitat
Mississippi kites primarily inhabit open woodland areas like prairies or farmlands where it’s easy for them to catch small prey like rodents, insects or lizards on-the-go.
Food
As mentioned earlier, these birds mainly feed on small animals such as rodents (mice & rats), insects (grasshoppers & dragonflies), reptiles (lizards). They do not rely solely on hunting live prey but will also scavenge if they come across any dead animal carcasses nearby.
Cool Facts
– If you see hundreds of these kites flying high up in the skies together during summer months—don’t worry! It’s an annual migration pattern called “kettling,” which happens when large groups gather together to travel long distances.
– As migratory birds that spend time in both hemispheres each year, these impressive flyers will put down thousands upon thousands-of-miles yearly!
– Another cool fact about this species is that they’re territorial meat eaters; so much so that other birds of prey, like hawks or eagles, have to be careful not to cross into their territories.
Conclusion
The Mississippi Kite is a bird of many talents. They are agile hunters who can surprise even the wiliest prey with lightning-fast movements in the air. These raptors are also highly adaptable, so you may spot one in your local area if you know where to look! Next time you’re out and about in open woodland areas or prairies, keep an eye out for these amazing creatures soaring overhead.
