ComingsBirds.com/Texas

To the Beauty of Birds

The Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus is an elanid kite which breeds from the southeastern United States to eastern Peru and northern Argentina. It was formerly named Falco forficatus.
An elanid kite is any of several small, long-winged, hovering raptor. The genus and species include the following:

This species is 20 to 26 inches in length, with a wingspan of approximately 3.7–4.5 ft. Male and female individuals are similar. The body is a contrasting deep black and white. The flight feathers, tail, feet, bill are all black. Another characteristic is the elongated, forked tail at 10.8–15 in, hence the name Swallow-tailed. The wings are also relatively elongated.
These photos were taken at the Galveston Island State Park.

Swallow-tailed Kite

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